new martyrs

Six centuries since the martyrdom of Saint Ephraim the New, wonderworker of Nea Makri

Six centuries ago, on 5 May 1426, Saint Ephraim the New surrendered his soul after enduring prolonged and brutal torture for the Orthodox faith. Saint Ephraim was born in Greece on 14 September 1384 and was left fatherless at a young age. At the age of 14, he entered monastic life at the Monastery of…

May 5, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Who was Protos. Iraclie Flocea: Survivor of the Stalinist Gulag proposed for canonization

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved, in its working session from October 25, 2023, the proposal of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia for the canonization of Protosyncellus Iraclie Flocea (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964). The proposal had previously been approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The…

Nov 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Arad Theology Faculty rejoices in upcoming canonization of Fr Ilarion Felea

The approval of the local arguments regarding the canonization proposal of Father Ilarion Felea by the Synod of the Metropolis of Banat is a “gratifying fact for those who knew him, read his biography and pastoral-missionary theological work,” the dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Arad, Fr. Cristinel Ioja, told Basilica.ro. “A joy…

Oct 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Monument to new martyr Valeriu Gafencu blessed in his hometown

On Thursday, October 1, a bust of Valeriu Gafencu, one of the most beloved 20th-century martyrs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, was unveiled and blessed in his hometown. Gafencu was arrested by the communist authorities in 1941 and died 11 years later at Târgu Ocna Prison at the tender age of 31. He was dubbed…

Oct 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Czech-Slovak and Serbian hierarchs celebrate canonization of several new martyrs

Hierarchs of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and of the Serbian Church came together on Saturday, February 8, to liturgically celebrate the glorification among the saints of several New Martyrs of the Czech-Slovak Church. Frs. Vladimír Petřek and Václav Čikl, as well as Ján Sonnevend, Václav Ornest, and Karel Louda and their…

Feb 12, 2020Mihail Mere-Albe

Ecumenical Patriarchate glorifies new martyrs of Estonia

Following the proposal of the Metropolitan of Tallinn, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate resolved to glorify several new martyrs of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Estonia who confessed the Orthodox faith during 1944-1955, Romfea reports. The new Saints will be commemorated every year on August 20. The Synaxis of the Estonian new martyrs…

Mar 20, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Kirill speaks about Confessing the Orthodox Faith under an atheist system and the meaning of our freedom today

Address by His Beatitude Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, delivered at the solemn session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, 28 October 2017: Your Beatitude Most Blessed Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church! Your Beatitudes, Your Eminences and Graces, Esteemed archpastors! I was sincerely pleased to receive your kind…

Nov 3, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu