Mount Athos

Why is Romania called the “Garden of the Mother of God”? The answer lies in a 1499 Marian apparition

Pope Francis in 2019 and Pope John Paul II in 1999 reaffirmed a belief deeply rooted in Romanian tradition since the 15th century: that Romania is the “Garden of the Mother of God.” Few, however, know the origin of this title. It is based on a miraculous event that took place in Neamț County, at…

Aug 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch hails bilingual Psalter as fruit of Orthodox cooperation with Vatopedi Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel underlined that the Vatopedi Psalter “is the result of intensive cooperation between the fathers of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos and a group of professors from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology ‘Patriarch Justinian’ of the University of Bucharest, under the coordination of the Reverend Professor Constantin Coman.” His Beatitude participated Tuesday…

Jul 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Vatopedi Abbot highlights knowledge of God as Church’s greatest gift during Saint Demetrius summer feast in Bucharest

“The greatest gift the Church offers believers is the knowledge of God,” emphasised Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi in his sermon on Sunday at the outdoor altar of Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral. Abbot Ephraim referenced the words of Jesus Christ on eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God,…

Jul 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Mel Gibson visits Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, praises deep spiritual experience

Renowned American actor, director, and producer Mel Gibson, best known for his film The Passion of the Christ, arrived last Friday at the Serbian Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, where he was set to spend several days. The information and accompanying photo were shared on the Friends of Hilandar Monastery (Пријатељи манастира Хиландара) Facebook page,…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church proposes new feast: Sunday of All Athonite Saints

The Romanian Orthodox Church may soon add a new feast day to its liturgical calendar: the Sunday of the Athonite Saints. The proposed date for this commemoration is the third Sunday after Pentecost, following the Sunday of All Saints and the Sunday of the Romanian Saints—two feasts that already occur after Pentecost. The proposal was…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Vatopedi Abbot to bring relic of Saint John Chrysostom to Bucharest for July pilgrimage

The Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim Koutsou, Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, will bring the honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom to Bucharest in July. This privileged occasion will allow people to venerate the relic of Saint John Chrysostom in Bucharest. Summer feast of Saint Demetrius This event will…

Jun 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Archimandrite Ambrose, Abbot of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, falls asleep in the Lord

Archimandrite Ambrose, Abbot of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, passed away on Monday at the age of 85, as announced by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Father Ambrose (Tyrolenkov) graduated from the Sofia Theological Seminary near Cherepish, Bulgaria. In 1973, he entered Bačkovo Monastery as a novice, and four years later, he was tonsured as a monk.…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Community of Mount Athos announces new measures for pilgrim access

The Holy Community of Mount Athos has officially announced new measures regarding the access of pilgrims, which will come into effect from January 1, 2025. The decision was made due to the increasing number of visitors and to not disrupt monastic life and the prayer schedule. According to the new regulations, the maximum number of…

Dec 30, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

“Mount Athos Nightingale” Nectarios Protopsaltes is considered for sainthood, Patriarch Daniel announces at Bucharest Archdiocese Monastic Synaxis

During his speech at the Monastic Synaxis of the Bucharest Archdiocese on Thursday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel referred to the desire to canonize Nectarios Protopsaltes, an Athonite monk of Romanian origin who was the disciple of the newly-glorified Saint Macarios Protopsaltes. Regarding the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters (psaltai), His Beatitude recalled that…

Nov 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Athonite monks present Patriarch Daniel with relic of Ven. Dionisie Ignat

On Saturday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed two hieroschemamonks from St George – Colciu cell on Mount Athos: Fr Dionisie Alb, the cell’s hegumen, and Fr. Dionisie Florea. The Athonite fathers presented the Patriarch of Romania with a fragment of the honourable head of Elder Dionisie Ignat. Patriarch Daniel granted them the second highest distinction…

May 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Elder Iulian of Prodromos Skete laid to rest

On Saturday, the Romanian Prodromos Skete on Mt. Athos said farewell to one of its most beloved monks, Hieromonk Iulian (Lazăr). Fr. Iulian, who hailed from Botoșani in northeastern Romania and spent 46 years on the Holy Mountain, reposed in the Lord at the age of 97 on Friday, March 10. The separation from their…

Mar 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu