Holy Land

Dormition Fast begins on Old Calendar: Traditions from Romania’s border communities to Orthodox faithful worldwide

Most Romanian communities around Romania’s borders, as well as Orthodox faithful in other parts of the world, follow the unrevised calendar and are preparing for the Dormition Fast, which begins on Thursday, August 14. Popularly known as “Saint Mary’s Fast,” it is meant to be quite strict, as it culminates with the Dormition of the…

Aug 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Chozeva Monastery abbot visits monastic cell of Saints Cleopas and Paisius at Sihăstria

A delegation from the Holy Land has visited the monastic cell of Saints Cleopas Ilie and Paisius Olaru at Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County, Romania. The delegation included the Very Rev. Archimandrite Constantinos Peramatzis, abbot of the Monastery of Saint George of Chozeva, and Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to the Holy Places.…

Jul 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate appoints Fr. Ioan Meiu as new representative to the Holy Land

The Very Rev. Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu will become the new representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Land, taking over the position from Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, who was recently elected Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău. According to a decision by the Standing Committee of the National Church Council, Fr. Ioan…

Jul 10, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to Holy Land elected assistant bishop

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has elected the Very Rev. Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representative to the Holy Places, as Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău. Archimandrite Teofil has served as the Romanian Patriarchate’s liaison to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and as Superior of the Romanian Settlements…

Jul 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian religious missions in Holy Land safe amid Israel-Iran conflict, Church representative says

“In the context of the recent acts of war unfolding in the Holy Land, we inform you that our Romanian settlements in the Holy Land — the Representation in Jerusalem and the Romanian Settlement in the biblical city of Jericho — are safe,” announced Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the…

Jun 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian presidential advisor visits Orthodox mission in Jerusalem, highlights pilgrims’ concerns

On Tuesday, Presidential Advisor Cristian Diaconescu visited the Romanian Orthodox Church’s representation in Jerusalem, where he met with the Very Rev. Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to the Holy Places. “We discussed several issues faced by Romanian pilgrims coming to the Holy Land, as well as the mission we run here on this…

May 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel hails Saint Helena as first pilgrim to Holy Land, who left an invaluable spiritual heritage

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church welcomed the relics of Saint Helena on Wednesday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, brought on pilgrimage from Venice. Empress Helena was “the first Christian pilgrim to the Holy Land” and “left us a spiritual legacy of inestimable value,” said the Patriarch of Romania. His Beatitude emphasized that…

May 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Austrian Churches Council visits Holy Land to support peace and Christian communities

A delegation from the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria (ÖRKÖ) visited the Holy Land last week for discussions with organizations working for peace and reconciliation. The delegation included: Bishop Tiran Petrosyan, Apostolic Armenian Bishop and President of ÖRKÖ, Bishop Manfred Scheuer, Catholic Bishop of Linz, Superintendent Thomas Hennefeld, Regional Reformed Church leader, Father Nicolae…

Feb 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch receives Israel’s Ambassador for courtesy visit

On Monday, November 25, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania welcomed His Excellency Mr. Lior Ben Dor, the Ambassador of Israel to Romania, for a courtesy visit at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. Patriarch Daniel praised Ambassador Ben Dor’s extensive diplomatic experience and highlighted the excellent relations between Romania and Israel. A pertinent example…

Nov 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop meets with Deputy Ambassador of Israel to strengthen bilateral ties

On Monday, November 4, 2024, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod, welcomed His Excellency Mr. Rami Teplitskiy, Deputy Ambassador of the State of Israel to Bucharest, at the Patriarchal Palace. Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești extended a warm welcome to the Israeli Deputy Ambassador at the Romanian Patriarchate, noting…

Nov 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Theophilos III meets with Romanian Minister Natalia Intotero at the Jerusalem Patriarchate

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III met on Saturday at the Jerusalem Patriarchate with Natalia Intotero, Romania’s Minister of Family, Youth, and Equal Opportunities. Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, a key figure from the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representation in the Holy Land, accompanied Minister Natalia Intotero. His Beatitude warmly welcomed Natalia Intotero and discussed the current situation in the…

Aug 20, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu