Holy Pascha 2026

Romanian ambassador thanks Patriarchate for sending priest to serve diaspora in Tunisia at Easter

His Excellency Valentin Ciprian Muntean, Romania’s ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia, expressed his gratitude on Tuesday to the Romanian Patriarchate for temporarily assigning a Romanian priest to serve during Easter alongside Metropolitan Meletios of Carthage and North Africa (Patriarchate of Alexandria) and local Orthodox clergy. “I place great importance on Romanian spirituality, and I…

Apr 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian patriarch says Resurrection is central truth at midnight Easter service: full homily

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said the Resurrection of Christ is the central truth of Christian faith, in his homily delivered at the midnight Pascha service in Bucharest. Addressing thousands of faithful gathered for the Resurrection service on Holy Saturday night, the Patriarch of Romania underlined that the Resurrection is not a symbolic…

Apr 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian: ‘Joy is the first gift Christ offers the Myrrh-bearing Women’

“The first thing Christ wishes to share with the Myrrh-bearing Women early in the morning is joy,” writes Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada in his pastoral message for Holy Pascha. “Joy springs from the encounter with the Son of God, who grants us salvation. It is the shared joy of communion once lost and restored…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie says Resurrection is ‘true life’, calls for faith and stability in families

“The Resurrection is not merely a consolation for the soul, not just a beautiful thought that comforts us for a moment, but is life itself—the true life,” said Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in his Easter pastoral letter. In his message, the archbishop emphasised that the Resurrection transforms and gives meaning to…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew calls Resurrection message a ‘gospel of peace’ in Easter address

“The message of the Cross and the Resurrection resounds today as a Gospel of peace, reconciliation, and justice,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said in his Easter pastoral message. His All-Holiness stressed the profound significance of the Resurrection, describing it as “the manifest victory of life over death, renews all creation, and opens to humanity the…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Fire from Jerusalem to be flown to Romania on special flight amid security restrictions

The Holy Fire from Jerusalem will be brought to Romania on a special flight on Holy Saturday, following an agreement secured with the support of Romanian and Israeli authorities. Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Land, said the Romanian delegation had received the necessary approvals to transport the Holy Fire.…

Apr 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Nicolae urges Christians to witness faith in troubled world in Easter message

Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas has called on Christians to bear witness through their lives in a world “increasingly distant from God”, marked by selfishness, indifference and violence, in his Easter pastoral message. Highlighting the significance of the Resurrection, he cited Saint John Chrysostom, saying: “The day of the Resurrection…

Apr 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s Easter message urges paschal joy and prayer for world peace

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church urged believers to show the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and to pray for peace in the world, in his pastoral message for Holy Pascha 2026, the most important feast of the Christian calendar. In his video message, the Patriarch of Romania emphasised that the Resurrection of…

Apr 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Israel prepares logistics for Holy Fire transfer to Romania amid security challenges

The Embassy of Israel in Romania said on Tuesday that Israeli authorities have begun logistical preparations for the transfer of the Holy Fire from Jerusalem, amid ongoing security challenges in the region. In a statement posted on social media, the embassy said that “the State of Israel is taking all necessary steps to facilitate the…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Christians to begin Great Lent on Feb. 23 as Pascha falls on April 12

In about a month, on February 23, Orthodox Christians will enter Great Lent, also known as the Great Fast. The Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord (Holy Pascha) will be celebrated on April 12 this year. On February 1, the liturgical season of the Triodion begins, including three preparatory weeks for Great Lent, followed…

Jan 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu