Monastic life

From medicine to theology: Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia recounts his journey towards faith

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia spoke on a ProTV Chișinău podcast about the path that led him from medical studies to theology and, subsequently, to monastic life. Metropolitan Antonie explained that his interest in theology began while he was studying medicine, when his psychiatry courses prompted questions about the existence of the soul and…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox abbot in US: Monastic vocation is God’s gift, not human achievement

Archimandrite Ieremia Berbec, abbot of the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of St. Demetrius the New in Middletown, New York, recently gave an interview to a youth magazine edited by Putna Monastery. In his conversation with Iulian Tomeac, former president of ASCOR Suceava, the archimandrite reflected on the meaning of monasticism and how one discerns the calling…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

A Romanian monastery in Canada: “Monastic life is not an escape from the world, but a journey towards God”

“Monastic life is not an escape from the world, but a journey towards God. A monk does not withdraw from people; rather, he seeks to carry everyone in his prayers. This calling is both a gift and a great responsibility,” says Hieromonk Policarp Athenagoras, abbot of the only Romanian Orthodox monastery in Canada. The Romanian…

Jul 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch Daniel marks 38 years of monastic life

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has marked 38 years since his monastic tonsure. The future Patriarch of Romania was tonsured a monk at Sihăstria Monastery on August 5-6, 1987, following the Vespers of the Feast of the Transfiguration. Saint Cleopas Ilie, canonized last year, blessed his decision, became his monastic godfather…

Aug 7, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian children from Belgium discover monastic life and prayer at “Little Hesychast” Camp in Switzerland

Children from the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Antwerp, Belgium, took part last week in the “Little Hesychast” Camp, organized at the “Protection of the Mother of God” Monastery in Switzerland. The camp’s main goal was to bring children and teenagers closer to monastic life and help them learn the Jesus Prayer. The children attended the…

Apr 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru celebrates 56 years of monastic life during parish anniversary in Ungheni

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday in Ungheni, marking the 56th anniversary of his monastic life, alongside two milestone celebrations of the local parish dedicated to Saint Joseph the Merciful, Metropolitan of Moldavia. On this occasion, Fr. Gabriel-Andrei Gherasă, dean of the Ungheni parish, celebrated seven years of priestly ministry and…

Apr 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Elder Parthenios warns mobile phones and internet pose major spiritual risks to monastic focus and prayer

Elder Parthenios Agiopavlitis, the abbot of the Athonite Monastery of Saint Paul, recently raised concerns over the dangers that mobile phones and the internet pose to monastic life. Reflecting on nearly 50 years as abbot, Elder Parthenios recounted incidents in which monks, who had left the world for a life devoted to God, fell prey…

Nov 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Andrei at Cluj monastic synaxis: Asceticism does not weaken the body but rather strengthens it

On Thursday, His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei presided over the synaxis of monastics from the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, held at the “Protection of the Mother of God” Monastery in Florești. The gathering began with the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița. In his opening address at the monastic synaxis, Metropolitan…

Oct 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie of Huși expresses concerns about monks’ presence on social media

Although he is one of the few Romanian hierarchs active on social media, Bishop Ignatie of Huși expressed his scepticism regarding the use of social platforms during the diocese’s annual monastic synaxis on Tuesday. His Grace Bishop Ignatie began by referring to Saint Silouan the Athonite, commemorated on Sept. 24, who said, “A monk should…

Sep 27, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

From fame to monastic life: Greek TikToker quits social media and becomes a nun

With nearly 480,000 followers on TikTok, Eleni Mazlou has decided to dedicate her life to Christ and embrace monastic life. The 23-year-old influencer made the announcement by sharing photos from her monastic tonsure on social media. Before publicly revealing her new mission, the former content creator removed all posts from her personal channels that did…

Sep 17, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Benedict of Nursia, on self-realization: An exclusive essay by Bp Benedict of Bistrița

Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița wrote an essay exclusively for Basilica.ro inspired by the work of his spiritual patron Saint. Please find below Bp Benedict’s essay: Saint Benedict of Nursia, on self-realization Along with Saints Basil the Great or John Cassian, Saint Benedict of Nursia is among the founders and organizers of monastic life. He…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu