Solemn Year of Prayer

Banat Metropolitan distributes 30,000 prayer books to students

His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat is offering the students in his archdiocese a valuable Christmas gift this year. In all, 30,000 prayer books were donated by His Eminence to be distributed by local religion teachers, reports the Metropolis of Banat. The archpastor wanted every student in his diocese to “benefit from a prayer book, which…

Dec 16, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel offers remedy for secularisation during Bucharest monastic synaxis

During the annual assembly of the superiors of all monasteries within the Archdiocese of Bucharest, which took place last Thursday at the Patriarchal Palace, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel shared his thoughts on prayer, hesychasm, and the antidote to secularisation. The most concise and intense prayer “The first duty of a monk or nun is to…

Nov 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod urges more prayer during Nativity Fast: It brings peace to our souls and world

In a pastoral letter for the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church stressed that the multiplication of prayer is necessary. The Romanian hierarchs emphasised that despite the world’s current crisis, prayer has intensified in the life of the Church and the faithful. The Synodal fathers explained that…

Nov 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on grace and hesychasm: St Gregory Palamas was a fruit of St Paul’s exhortation to pray unceasingly

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel spoke on Thursday about St. Demetrius the New as a hesychast saint and outlined his connection with the believers on both banks of the Danube River. His Beatitude also referred to St. Gregory Palamas, the Archbishop of Thessaloniki, and described him as a fruit of the work of grace among the…

Oct 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel opens international theology symposium on prayer

The International Theology Symposium on “The role of prayer in the ecclesial and personal life of believers” began on Monday with His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulating the organisers and greeting the attendees. His Beatitude hoped that “this academic event will contribute to the promotion of prayer as a state of encounter and conversation between man…

Oct 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Solemn Year of Prayer: Holy Synod establishes new Patriarchal Order of the Praying Theotokos

During its working session last week, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church established a new Order of the Praying Theotokos (Virgin Orans). “This order is fundamental to highlighting the importance of prayer this year. The Mother of God is generally depicted with the Child on her left arm, near her heart, and with…

Oct 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins

At the beginning of the new academic year, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to all students, urging them to combine study with prayer. The patriarchal message focuses on prayer as a way to enlighten the mind, warm the heart and enhance activity. His Beatitude also recalled that time is “the most precious gift…

Sep 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

The life of the Church Fathers promotes peace in souls and society: Patriarch Daniel’s message to Bose Int’l Conference

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to the participants of the 28th International Inter-Christian Conference on Orthodox Spirituality, held on September 6-9, 2022, at Bose Monastery in Italy. His Beatitude expressed his appreciation to the organizers, who have been promoting Orthodox spirituality and patristic theology for almost three decades. “In today’s world, dominated by…

Sep 23, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s message ahead of 2022-23 school year: Children and young people need to discover the profoundly Christian meaning of life

The Patriarch of Romania has sent a message to all students and teachers at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, noting that prayer is a source of peace, joy and communion. His Beatitude stressed that today, when, under the influence of secularisation, spiritual values are neglected, and education is subject to paradigm shifts, children…

Sep 1, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges Romanians worldwide to value and cultivate prayer

Patriarch Daniel has sent a message to the Romanian diaspora marking the Romanian Migrants’ Sunday on August 21, 2022. His Beatitude urges those who left Romania to remain united through continuous prayer with God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and, simultaneously, with their loved ones who remained in Romania. At the same time, the…

Aug 19, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel explains why the Hesychasts were the most sought-after spiritual fathers and what is a prayerful reason

After investing thirteen priests from the Archdiocese of Bucharest as spiritual fathers, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained why today people need more than ever prayerful priests. “Prayer that enables the mind to descend into the heart brings us peace and sets the praying reason in opposition to the rebellious reason,” Patriarch Daniel said during a…

Aug 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu