Ukrainian refugees

2022 was a year of many challenges in philanthropy – patriarchal adviser

After the years of the pandemic, society faced new problems in 2022. The Romanian Orthodox Church stood beside the afflicted. Fr. Ciprian Ioniță, patriarchal adviser overseeing the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, and President of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Filantropia Federation, provided Radio Trinitas with an update on the previous year’s activities. “The year 2022…

Jan 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bălți Diocese opens educational centre for Ukrainian refugee children

On June 15, His Grace Bishop Antonie of Bălți officiated a blessing service at the opening of the Anastasis Educational Centre, where Ukrainian children displaced to Bălți can continue their online studies and keep in touch with their teachers and colleagues in different parts of Europe. The “Anastasis” Centre has been integrated into the cultural-educational…

Jun 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Small country, big heart: President Maia Sandu thanks Diaconia Mission for helping Ukrainian refugees

The Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia published a letter from the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who praised the organization’s involvement in supporting refugees in Ukraine. “We have shown that we are a small country, but with a big heart,” President Maia Sandu wrote. “You, through magnanimity, care and…

May 26, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian woman who fled to Romanian Monastery receives Baptism on Holy Saturday

A 42-year-old atheist Ukrainian woman, who took refuge in Varatec Monastery in eastern Romania, converted to Orthodoxy and was baptised on Holy Saturday. Stavrophore Iosefina Giosanu, the abbess of Varatec Monastery, told Doxologia about the event that took place a day before Easter in the Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Humuleștii Noi,…

Apr 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan Petru meets the President of the Republic of Moldova

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met on Thursday with Her Excellency Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova. Topics included the social work of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in support of Ukrainian refugees. During the meeting, His Eminence congratulated President Sandu for the proper and honest activity she has shown in the context…

Apr 22, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s 2022 Easter pastoral letter: Christ’s Resurrection is the foundation of the resurrection of humankind

In his pastoral letter for Holy Pascha 2022, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed that “the light of the grace of the Most Holy Trinity, which links the Holy Mysteries of the Church with the mystery of the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment of human deeds on earth and the joy of eternal life…

Apr 19, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Communique: Romanian Orthodox Church has supported Ukrainians with over 5 million euros so far

The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate published details on the support provided by the Romanian Orthodox Church for the victims of the war in Ukraine during March 18-24, 2022, and communicated the total amount of support provided so far: it exceeds 5.2 million euros (26 million lei). Full text of the communique: Humanitarian aid…

Mar 31, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

ACT Alliance, WCC delegation meets with Bishop of Maramureș with a focus on refugee crisis

His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramureș and Sătmar welcomed a delegation from ACT Alliance and the World Council of Churches at the diocesan centre in Baia Mare last week. The delegation visited Hungary, Ukraine and Romania on 14-18 March, focusing on humanitarian needs and church response. The Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar is one of…

Mar 22, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Our neighbour’s image as icon of Christ: 4 million € in refugee support from the Romanian Orthodox Church

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Vasile Bănescu, the Romanian Patriarchate’s spokesperson, was invited to the Spiritual Reality show, broadcast by the Romanian Realitatea TV channel. The topic of the day was help offered by the Church in the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Until last Sunday, this support amounted to almost 4 million Euros. The explanation: our…

Mar 16, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Humanitarian aid for Ukraine war victims provided by the Romanian Orthodox Church

Against the dramatic background of the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe it has caused, the Romanian Orthodox Church has been mobilized since the early days of this conflict unleashed by Russia against an independent and sovereign country, providing considerable aid to Ukrainian refugees who arrived on the territory of Romania, in…

Mar 14, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

This is how the Orthodox Church in Finland reacted to the war in Ukraine

Right after Russia attacked Ukraine, the organizations of priests and chanters of the Orthodox Church of Finland, along with the Orthodox Youth Association of Finland and lay organizations, made a joint appeal to the worshippers of the Church to collect funds for Ukrainian refugees through Filantropia ry, the international aid organization of the Orthodox Church…

Mar 9, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu