pastoral care of families

ITO 2026 to gather 2,400 Orthodox young people in Bucharest for prayer, dialogue and fellowship

The International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO), the largest youth event organised by the Romanian Orthodox Church, will take place in Bucharest from 31 August to 3 September 2026 under the theme “Young People, the Family and Life in Christ”. With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, this year’s gathering will bring together approximately…

Aug 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges Christian education and support for disadvantaged pupils as new school year begins

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed pupils, parents and teachers at the start of the 2026–2027 school year and encouraged families, churches, and schools to cultivate faith and Christian values. The Patriarch of Romania highlighted Religious Education’s contribution to pupils’ personal, moral, and spiritual formation, stressing that education should develop not only knowledge but also skills,…

Aug 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox bishop in Australia urges families to teach children the faith

His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand served on Sunday at the Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs in Sydney, Australia. “Let us teach our children our Orthodox Christian faith,” His Grace said. The hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with His Grace Bishop Iachint of the Pacific, Assistant Bishop of…

Aug 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges support for Romanian families abroad on Migrants’ Sunday

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has called for stronger spiritual and family ties with Romanians living abroad, saying Orthodox parishes in the diaspora have become places where migrants can preserve their faith, language and cultural identity. In a message for the Sunday of Romanian Migrants, observed this year on 16 August,…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

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

Bishop Macarie urges faithful to entrust families to the Mother of God during Dormition Fast

“Let us entrust our families, our children and young people, our parents and the elderly, the sick and the lonely, our homes, our journeys, our worries, our trials, and all our needs to the Mother of God,” Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe said in a message marking the beginning of the Dormition Fast. The bishop…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Youth Gathering unveils ITO 2026 logo inspired by National Cathedral and Brâncuși

The visual identity of the 2026 International Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO) has been unveiled, featuring a logo inspired by the mosaics of Romania’s National Cathedral and Constantin Brâncuși’s iconic Infinite Column. According to the organisers, the central element of the monogram is “a minimalist representation of the silhouettes of young people joyfully participating in the…

Jul 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest to host 2,400 young people for International Orthodox Youth Meeting

Around 2,400 young people from Romania and abroad are expected to take part in this year’s International Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO), which will be held in Bucharest from 31 August to 3 September. The gathering will be held under the theme Young People, the Family and the Meaning of Life in Christ, reflecting the Romanian…

Jun 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: St John the Baptist is a protector of families and childless couples

“St John the Baptist is a guardian and protector of families, and a helper of those who have no children,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Wednesday, on the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Forerunner. His Beatitude recalled that the birth of St John was the fruit of the persevering prayers of…

Jun 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate voices concern over Samson family case in Sweden, backs repatriation of children

The Romanian Patriarchate is concerned about the very difficult situation facing the Romanian Samson family in Sweden, following the separation of their two daughters, Sara and Tiana, from their parents, as a result of a decision by the Swedish local authorities on 2 December 2022. The Church has always taught that the primary responsibility for…

Jun 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Basilica Media Centre a gift from God to Church and Romanian people

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, on Monday of the Holy Spirit, marked the patronal feast of the Basilica Media Centre by praising its role in communicating the life of the Church and promoting Orthodox values in contemporary society. In a message addressed to the staff of the Romanian Patriarchate’s media institutions, the Patriarch described the Basilica…

Jun 1, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu