prayer

Patriarch Daniel on St Mary of Egypt: Repentance and prayer transform sinners into Saints

“Prayer united with repentance and fasting helps sinners become saints, as shown in the life of Saint Mary of Egypt,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said. The Patriarch took part on Sunday in the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the historic Chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George at the Patriarchal Residence.…

Mar 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam urges faithful to restore their bond of love with God the Father ahead of Lent

“May the good God grant us the wisdom that leads us back to Christ, and help us use the time of Great Lent with discernment, so that the feast of Pascha may truly become, for each of us, a return to the boundless love of our Heavenly Father,” said Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Cluj Metropolitan: Combine bodily discipline with inner purification during Dormition Fast

His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj has urged the faithful to live the Dormition Fast not merely as a dietary restriction, but as a time for strengthening prayer, reconciling with God, and purifying the soul. “Let us fast not only from food, but also from evil,” the hierarch said, emphasising that true fasting combines bodily…

Aug 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Humble prayer and fasting fill man with God’s sanctifying love

“Through humble prayer united with fasting, a person empties himself of ego and is filled with the humble, healing, and sanctifying love of God,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday at the historic “Saint George” Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch of Romania…

Apr 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj: Prayer and fasting will help us overcome the world’s challenges

“It is clear to all of us that the world faces many problems, and we hope to overcome them with the help of prayer and fasting,” emphasized Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj in his message at the beginning of Great Lent. His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei noted that this period offers an excellent opportunity…

Mar 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Jesus desires restoration of health and renewal of personal connection with God

“Jesus desires that, along with the restoration of people’s health, their personal connection with God—the Source of life and all beneficial gifts—also be renewed,” said Patriarch Daniel on Sunday, referencing the Gospel account of the healing of the blind man of Jericho. “That is why Jesus asks the blind man, What do you want me…

Dec 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

1,000 Days of War in Ukraine: Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate prays for peace and refugees

On Tuesday, memorial services for the victims of the war in Ukraine were held across several communities within the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania, marking 1,000 days since the onset of the military conflict. The services, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania, took place in Ukrainian Orthodox churches in Sighetu Marmației,…

Nov 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Andrei at Cluj monastic synaxis: Asceticism does not weaken the body but rather strengthens it

On Thursday, His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei presided over the synaxis of monastics from the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, held at the “Protection of the Mother of God” Monastery in Florești. The gathering began with the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița. In his opening address at the monastic synaxis, Metropolitan…

Oct 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s sermon: If a person prays, they are no longer alone

One conclusion of the Gospel reading for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost is that “if a person prays, they are no longer alone, even if they are in solitude,” according to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. Essentially, the Gospel about Jesus walking on the sea and calming the storm shows us that strong faith in Christ…

Aug 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel begins 2024 expressing gratitude for the gift of the past and hope for the future

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasised the importance of gratitude for the gift of the past and hope for the future at a solemn service performed on New Year’s Eve at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. At the thanksgiving service officiated Sunday night, Patriarch Daniel stressed the importance of time as…

Jan 3, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop of Australia and New Zealand urges faithful to welcome the New Year with persistent prayer

In his Christmas pastoral letter, His Grace Mihail, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, urges the faithful to greet the New Year with persistent prayer. “We can say that through Christ’s coming into the world, the Kingdom of God was opened to the world,” the bishop wrote. “It is important to emphasise…

Dec 24, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu