Saint Parascheva

Iasi Archdiocese to mark 380th anniversary of the translation of Saint Parascheva’s relics to Romania

On June 12-13, 2021, the Archdiocese of Iaşi will hold cultural and liturgical events marking the 380th anniversary of the translation of the relics of Saint Parascheva from Constantinople to Iaşi. The holy relics were a gift of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the ruler prince of Moldavia, Vasile Lupu. In 1641, the relics were enshrined…

Jun 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Dăeni Parish Priest was a rebel child: “My ‘religion’ was football.” Read how St Parascheva chose him as her servant

The life and work of Father Alexandru Octavian Balaban from St Parascheva Parish in Dăeni, county of Tulcea, unfolds under St Parascheva’s protection. The priest, whose story has been recently featured in Libertatea daily, told Basilica.ro how he transitioned from the “religion of football” to the ministry of priesthood. He grew up in the village…

Nov 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

In pictures: All night vigil in honour of Saint Parascheva at the Patriarchal Cathedral 2020

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova officiated the all-night vigil in honour of Saint Parascheva the New at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaPhotos

Oct 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan on St Parascheva’s Feast: The pandemic challenges us to ask ourselves inevitable questions

In his homily on the feast of St Parascheva of Iaşi, Metropolitan Teofan offered some answers to the challenges of the present times. To stop the community spread of the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus, Romanian authorities imposed harsh restrictions for this year’s celebrations: pilgrims from outside the city of Iași were denied access to the cathedral where…

Oct 21, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarchate Spokesperson demands respect for most of the good and faithful people of the country: Pilgrimage is the expression of responsible religious freedom

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Bănescu commented on the decision to ban this year’s pilgrimage from Bucharest, on the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The spokesman reminded that the pilgrimage is a manifestation of religious freedom and that pilgrims and the Romanian Orthodox Church deserve more respect and trust from the authorities. “The rigorously…

Oct 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: October 5 – 11, 2020

Please see below prayer moments and snapshots of Orthodox liturgical life: The Week in Pictures from October 5 to October 11, 2020. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post: View this post on Instagram *RO: “Laudă Glasului Care S-a făcut trup și Cuvântului Celui Preaînalt Care S-a făcut carne. L-au auzit urechile, L-au văzut ochii, L-au pipăit…

Oct 13, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch of Romania calls for Church-State co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive measures

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has urged co-responsibility and cooperation between the Church and the Romanian State after the pilgrimage to Iasi for the feast of Saint Parascheva was banned for non-locals. Call for co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive constraints: full text The Romanian Patriarchate expresses its full solidarity with all Orthodox believers…

Oct 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan warns against religious freedom violations as only locals can venerate relics of St. Parascheva

Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina has warned against the violation of religious freedom rights as authorities decided that only people domiciled in Iași are allowed to enter the Metropolitan Cathedral and venerate the holy relics of Saint Parascheva. “Moldavia is currently living one of the saddest periods in its history.” The Metropolitan released a…

Oct 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archdiocese of Iași: Grievous that Romanians can come here for any purpose except annual St. Parascheva pilgrimage

The feast of St. Parascheva the protectress of Moldova on October 14 is one of the largest religious celebrations in the liturgical calendar in the Romanian Orthodox Church. Every year, tens of thousands of Orthodox faithful flock to the city of Iași to venerate the saint’s precious relics. Last year, the weekend-long celebrations drew more than…

Oct 8, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan to record number of pilgrims in Iasi: Thank you for this lesson of theology

Over 25,000 believers flocked to Iasi on Monday to attend the Divine Liturgy in honour of Saint Paraskeva the New at the outdoor altar of the Metropolitan Cathedral. A record number of devout Romanians and pilgrims from abroad came out to venerate the relics of Saint Paraskeva in a weekend-long celebration in Iasi leading up…

Oct 14, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Saintliness does not depend on age, but on steadfastness: Patriarch Daniel

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday offered his reflections on the life of Saint Parascheva and noted that ‘she did not reach saintliness rapidly, which means that saintliness does not depend on age, but on steadfastness, on the intensity of our love for God.’ ‘In Orthodox iconography, the venerable Saints, even if they were younger,…

Oct 16, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu