motherhood

Romanian priest’s wife in Germany says diaspora ministry requires balancing parish mission and family life

Mihaela-Iuliana Păun is the wife of Fr. Ionuț Păun, the parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church dedicated to St. Parascheva and the Holy Martyrs Kilian, Coloman, and Totnan in Bamberg, Germany. She has lived there for almost seventeen years together with her husband and their four children. She teaches German in adult education, and…

Aug 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint Olympias of Fărcașa exemplifies sacrificial motherhood, charity and readiness for eternal life

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church described Saint Olympias of Fărcașa as a model of sacrificial motherhood, active charity and unwavering faith during the local proclamation of her canonisation on Saturday. In his message, the Patriarch said her life demonstrates that holiness can be attained through humble service to God, family and…

Jul 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

St Philotimia of Râmeț proclaimed locally as model of holy family life

The local proclamation of St Philotimia of Râmeț took place on Monday at Râmeț Monastery in Alba County. On the occasion, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania said the saint’s life demonstrates that “holiness can be lived within the family, not only in monasteries”. Before the Divine Liturgy, a procession was held with the relics…

Jun 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian deacon’s wife: ‘Motherhood helps us see ourselves as we truly are’

Theodora Moisescu is a deacon’s wife, a mother and a German language teacher. Born in Germany to a Romanian-German family, she came to Romania at 18 to pursue her studies and chose to remain in Timișoara. She graduated from the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology at the West University of Timișoara, specialising in Primary and…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox Church reiterates opposition to same-sex marriage and adoption after court ruling

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece has reiterated its position on the recognition of civil same-sex marriages and the possibility for such couples to adopt children, the Orthodoxia News Agency reported. The statement comes after Greece’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled in March that the right of same-sex couples to adopt children is…

Apr 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks first official Women’s Month following parliamentary approval

Sunday marked the beginning of Women’s Month in Romania, the first year the observance is being officially celebrated after Parliament approved the initiative and it was promulgated by President Nicușor Dan. According to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the adopted legislation, the law aims to highlight “the positive impact women have had on Romanian society in…

Mar 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian theologian says mothers of the Three Holy Hierarchs show how families can raise faithful, educated children

Families in which the Three Holy Hierarchs were born show that, “regardless of the challenges one faces and the contexts one must navigate, there are solutions” for raising children who are faithful to the Church and well formed intellectually and socially, said Cosmin Pricop, Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Patriarch Justinian” at the…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Veniamin warns of demographic crisis, urges support for Christian family in Republic of Moldova

Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia drew attention during his homily last Sunday to the challenges posed by the demographic crisis, highlighting the essential role of the Christian family in the birth, upbringing and education of children. His Grace emphasised the need to encourage women and mothers in order to strengthen the family and promote childbirth,…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu