Patriarch Miron Cristea

Remembering Romania’s first Patriarch Miron Cristea, 87 years after his repose

Eighty-seven years have passed since the repose of Miron Cristea, the first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He distinguished himself through intense efforts to organise and develop church and cultural life. Amid profound social and political transformations, he participated in the Great Union of 1918, contributed to the administrative consolidation of the Romanian Orthodox…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Te Deum marks 100 years since enthronement of Romania’s first Patriarch Miron Cristea, who guided Church into modernity

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia officiated a Te Deum on Saturday at the Patriarchal Cathedral to mark 100 years since the enthronement of Romania’s first Patriarch. “Through the work of Patriarch Miron Cristea, the Romanian Orthodox Church stepped into modernity, properly prepared to carry out its evangelical mission,” the hierarch underlined. His Grace recalled…

Nov 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks 100 years since enthronement of first Patriarch Miron Cristea

November 1 marked the centennial of the enthronement of Romania’s first Patriarch, Miron Cristea – a landmark moment in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church and in the spiritual life of the Romanian people. The event of 1 November 1925 confirmed the elevation of the Church to the rank of Patriarchate, thereby recognising its…

Nov 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Five key figures behind the founding of the Romanian Patriarchate

In 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks a century since one of the most significant milestones in its modern history: the elevation to the rank of Patriarchate. This centennial year offers not only a celebration of ecclesiastical achievement but also an opportunity to honour the spiritual, cultural, and national vision that shaped the Patriarchate’s foundation…

Jul 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

How the Romanian Orthodox Church became a Patriarchate: historians explain

A documentary produced by Radio Trinitas to mark the start of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate presents the evolution of the Orthodox Church on the territory of Romania until it achieved the status of a patriarchate, through the voices and expertise of two renowned professors of church history. Priests Ion Vicovan and Mihail Săsăujan,…

Mar 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

It is not my honor, but that of the entire Church: Patriarch Miron on the debate on the Law establishing the Romanian Patriarchate

A century ago, on February 17, 1925, the Chamber of Deputies of Romania held a historic debate on the Law for the Establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate. During the session, Metropolitan Miron Cristea, who was soon to be enthroned as the first Patriarch of Romania, delivered a memorable speech. “This Honor Belongs to the Entire…

Feb 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 100 years since becoming a Patriarchate

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates 100 years since the Holy Synod approved the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate. This decision elevated Patriarch Miron Cristea, then Archbishop of Bucharest and Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia (Muntenia), as the first Patriarch of Romania. The Romanian Parliament officially recognized the Synodal decision through a special…

Feb 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

5 powerful quotes from Patriarch Miron’s first Christmas encyclical (1926)

Patriarch Miron Cristea, the first Patriarch of Romania, wrote his first Christmas pastoral letter in 1926. In the five selected quotes below, the Patriarch points to wealth and poverty as possible obstacles in fulfilling the Christian’s purpose, the real power of mastery, sacrifice, as well as the conditions in which social well-being can be achieved.…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Bust of Romania’s First Patriarch Miron Cristea unveiled in Ploiești

A bust of the first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Miron Cristea, was unveiled on an Alley dedicated to the Founders of the 1918 Great Union in Ploiești’s Bucov Park during a ceremony on Saturday, October 24, Q Magazine reports. The bronze bust was made by the sculptor George Dumitru, with the support of…

Oct 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s 94th establishment anniversary observed

On Monday, February 4, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the 94th anniversary since its elevation to the rank of patriarchate. On February 4, 1925, the Holy Synod gathered in Bucharest and resolved the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate, following Romania’s Great Union achieved in 1918. The first person who advocated for the elevation of…

Feb 5, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate declares 2018 Solemn Year of Unity of Faith and Nation, Commemorative Year of the 1918 Great Union Founders

At the end of St Basil’s Divine Liturgy celebrated Monday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti read out the synodal document by which the Romanian Patriarchate officially declares 2018 Solemn Year of the Unity of Faith and Nation, and Commemorative Year of the 1918 Great Union Founders. Attending the…

Jan 2, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu