Holy Land

Jordan signs deals to develop Jesus’ baptism site ahead of 2,000th anniversary

The Jordanian government has signed four agreements to develop the area where Jesus Christ was baptised as part of preparations to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of the Lord in 2030. The agreements were signed on Wednesday at the Jordanian government headquarters in Amman following the first meeting of the National Committee for…

Aug 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

113 years since the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the Romanian ascetic who sanctified the Holy Land

Thursday marks the 113th anniversary of the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the New Chozebite, who continued the tradition of ascetic life in the Holy Land at the very places where the Prophet Elijah, St. Anne, the Mother of the Theotokos, and St. George of Chozeba had lived as hermits. Born on July…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archaeologists say they may have identified biblical Bethsaida on Sea of Galilee

A possible biblical mystery may have been solved, with archaeologists claiming to have identified the village of Bethsaida in Israel. The locality is mentioned in the New Testament and associated with several miracles performed by Jesus Christ. Researchers began excavations a decade ago at the archaeological site of El-Araj, located on the north-eastern shore of…

May 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Patriarch says Resurrection is ‘living reality’, urges Christians to remain in Holy Land

“The event of the Resurrection is not merely a remembrance of something belonging to the past, but subsists as a living and active reality, grounded in the mystical power of the Cross,” Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said in his Easter message this year. “In the sacrifice of the Cross and the victory of the…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian pilgrims return home safely after evacuation from Israel via Egypt

Romanian pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău returned home safely on Tuesday morning after being evacuated from Israel amid rising regional tensions, the group’s escort said. Father Valentin Chircu, who accompanied the pilgrims, told Basilica.ro that the tense moments began on the final day of the planned pilgrimage. “While we were attending the…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian lower house speaker meets Jerusalem Patriarch during official Israel visit

Sorin Grindeanu, Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, met last Wednesday with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting took place during an official visit to Israel by the Romanian parliamentary delegation, which also included Romania’s health minister and several members of parliament. “The first visit was to His Beatitude Patriarch…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Churches launch restoration of Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem

The Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced the start of restoration work at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to a joint statement, the works will be carried out by the Italian company that recently oversaw the rehabilitation of the Church of the Nativity,…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch meets Israeli Ambassador, highlights pilgrimages and bilateral ties

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania received Israel’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Lior Ben Dor, at the Patriarchal Residence. The ambassador was accompanied by Erez Golan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Bucharest. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel expressed his joy at meeting the ambassador again and praised…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate envoy meets Jerusalem Patriarch, presents Centennial distinction

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Places and Superior of the Romanian Orthodox establishments in Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley, met late last year with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. On behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the archimandrite presented Patriarch Theophilos with a…

Jan 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Israeli ambassador visits Cluj for first time, discusses pilgrimage ties and shared heritage with local assistant bishop

On Thursday, Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița from the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj received His Excellency Lior Ben Dor, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Romania, who paid his first official visit to Cluj-Napoca. The Israeli ambassador expressed his appreciation for the city’s beauty and the openness of its community. Born into…

Nov 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Theophilos III celebrates Divine Liturgy at Romanian Church in Jerusalem

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Church of the Romanian Settlement in Jerusalem. Concelebrating with him were Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Secretary General of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Metropolitan Joachim of Helenopolis; Archimandrite Constantine, Abbot of the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane;…

Nov 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu