Patriarch's homilies

True faith and prayer maintain church unity, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday, at the end of the consecration service of the Zlătari Church in Bucharest, that “true faith and prayer maintain the unity of the Church; Jesus not only spoke about the unity of the Church but also prayed for it.” His Beatitude highlighted that “the unity of the Church…

Jun 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on first day of Lent: Repentance does not lead to despair

After officiating the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete at the chapel of the Patriarchal Residence, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that “this rich hymn in the guise of the Church’s prayer urges us all to discover through repentance a source of peace and joy.” Repentance does not lead to despair “There are people…

Mar 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: By fasting, we show that we love God the Giver more than His gifts

“The Saviour teaches us that we must show through fasting that we love God, the Giver of life, more than the gifts He offers us and that we love heavenly spiritual gifts more than limited and transient material gifts,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Cheesefare Sunday. His Beatitude explained the Gospel of the Cheesefare…

Mar 18, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Triodion begins: Patriarch Daniel urges learning good deeds from the Pharisee and humility from the publican

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel urged, at the onset of the Triodion, from the altar of the historic chapel of the patriarchal residence, that in order to be pleasing to God, we should emulate the Pharisees’ practice of conducting good deeds and the tax collector’s humility. Triodion begins His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel noted that Orthodox believers…

Feb 27, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel explains spiritual meanings of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt

“The flight into Egypt recounted by the Evangelist Matthew has many spiritual meanings,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed in his sermon at Cernica Monastery, where he attended the Divine Liturgy on December 26. The first spiritual meaning is that “God takes care of every person, especially children who cannot defend or protect themselves.” Patriarch Daniel…

Dec 30, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

The Cross is the sign that unites heaven and earth and transforms suffering into the joy of Resurrection: Patriarch Daniel

“The Cross of Christ shows the humble and merciful love of the Holy Trinity. It is the sign that unites heaven and earth and transforms suffering into the joy of the Resurrection,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Thursday on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Orthodoxy does not separate the Cross…

Sep 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s practical advice inspired by the Gospel: About food waste, environmental protection, crowd discipline

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at Pasărea Monastery in Ilfov County on Sunday and addressed the faithful, stressing the need to prioritise spiritual things over material ones. Referring to the Sunday’s Gospel reading about the multiplication of the loaves and two fish, His Beatitude emphasised that the Saviour preached to the crowds,…

Jul 31, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Before being a feast, our Pascha is a Person – Jesus Christ

“The Ressurection, before being an event, is a Person. It is Jesus Christ Himself,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel during the Easter midnight vigil while reflecting on the Saviour’s words: “I am the resurrection and the life.” “The Jewish Passover remembered the Jewish people crossing the Red Sea, escaping from the slavery of Pharaoh, from…

Apr 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Live the life of Christ: Patriarch Daniel explains the mystagogical meaning of Holy Week

The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem connects the Lenten period with the beginning of a mystagogic, mystical period, the Romanian Patriarch explained on Palm Sunday. “Until now, the period of forty days has been one of asceticism, hardships, and fasting,” His Beatitude said. Patriarch Daniel explained that “asceticism” was translated into…

Apr 12, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Forgiveness is a condition to make a good beginning for Lent

On Cheesefare Sunday, when the Church remembers Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at St George Chapel of his Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon, His Beatitude explained why forgiveness is one of the conditions to make a good beginning for Lent. “By forgiving our neighbours, we crucify our selfishness…

Feb 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Tabor Light, perceived by the Hesychasts, is sought by every Christian enlightened at baptism

The light that appeared on Mount Tabor at the Saviour’s Transfiguration “is the light that every Christian enlightened at baptism by water and the Holy Spirit seeks,” Patriarch Daniel said Saturday. Fruit of prayer and a symbol of hesychasm, this light “is given to those who pray much and live a Christian life of fasting,…

Aug 9, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu