Pope Theodoros Begins Visit to Romania

Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria has begun a visit to the Romanian Orthodox Church, being received in the Romanian capital by Patriarch Daniel of Bucharest. The texts (in Romanian) of the first hierarchs' speeches at the reception can be found here.

Patriarch Daniel, Metropolitan Hilarion Meet in Bucharest

As part of his recent visit to Romania Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk has met with Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the seat of the Bucharest Patriarchate in the Romanian capital. During their lengthy meeting the hierarchs discussed issues in relations between the Local Orthodox Churches as well as the existing problems in relations between the Russian and Romanian Orthodox Churches, in particularly the activities of the schismatic Metropolitanate of Chisinau and Bessarabia on the canonical territories of the Moldovan and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. More here and here.

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, Georgian Orthodox Archbishop Meet in Bucharest

Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of the Romanian Orthodox Church has received a representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stephan of Tsageri, in Bucharest. During their meeting the two hierarchs discussed ways in which the two sister Orthodox Churches could draw closer to one another through pilgrimages and other projects. More (in Romanian) here.

Photo of the Day: Ascension in Bucharest

Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrating the festal Divine Liturgy for the Ascension in Bucharest's patriarchal Cathedral of St. Demetrius the New. More pictures can be found here.

Romania's Arabs Meet with Patriarch Daniel

Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest has met with members of Romania's Arabic-speaking minority to discuss the challenges facing the community in Romania. The Patriarchate of Antioch periodically sends a clergyman to celebrate the divine services in Arabic for the community, which has grown significantly in recent years. More (in Romanian) here.

Glorification of New Romanian Saint This Weekend

The Monastery of the Dormition in Lainici, Romania, will this coming weekend host the glorification services and celebrations for one of its past abbots, St. Herodion, who was recently glorified by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest will preside over the glorification. More (in Romanian) here.

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Consecrates Church in Mulhouse, France

This past Sunday evening Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest consecrated the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in the Alsatian town of Mulhouse. More here.

Patriarch Daniel Consecrates Strasbourg Church

This past weekend Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest consecrated the Church of St. John the Baptist in Strasbourg, France, during the Sunday Liturgy. In addition to the patriarch Metropolitan Iosif (Pop) of Paris and Bishops Timotei (Lauran) of Madrid and Marc (Alric), auxiliary of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Western and Southern Europe. More here.

Metropolitan Andrew of Cluj Enthroned

After this morning's festal services for new style Annunciation in Cluj's cathedral the city's Metropolitan-elect Andrei was enthroned by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest as Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crisana, and Maramures. More here.

New Cluj Metropolitan to be Enthroned on Annunciation

During tomorrow's new style celebration of the Annunciation in Cluj the new Metropolitan of Cluj will be enthroned in the city by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest of the Romanian Orthodox Church. More here.

Hungary Considers Designating Romanian Orthodox Church a 'Historic Church'

The Hungarian Parliament is considering a draft law that if implemented in its current form would designate the Romanian Orthodox Church as one of Hungary's "historic churches." In a meeting with Laszlo Szaszfalvi, the Secretary of State for Religious Affairs of the Hungarian government, Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest proposed that the Hungarian government also assist in the restoration of Romanian Orthodox churches in Hungary as some church properties in the country haven't been returned to the Church since the fall of Communism. More here.

Cluj Metropolitan Council Meets, Nominates Candidates for Metropolitanate

At today's meeting of the Metropolitan Council of Metropolitanate of Cluj under Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest the candidacy of Archbishop Andrei of Alba Iulia and auxiliary Bishop Irineu of Bistrita for the vacant cathedra of the metropolitanate was approved. More on the meeting can be found here. More on the candidates themselves can be found here.

Tomorrow's joint meeting of the Metropolitan Council and the Cluj diocesan assembly can either nominate one of the hierarchs for the Cluj cathedra or nominate someone else from the list of candidates approved by the Bucharest Patriarchate.

21st Anniversary of Patriarch Daniel's Episcopacy

In Romania today Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest is celebrating the 21st anniversary of his episcopacy while Metropolitan Nicolae of the Banat celebrates the 49th anniversary of his enthronement as Metropolitan of Timisoara. More here and here.

Romanian Orthodox Holy Synod Meets in Bucharest

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church opened its first session of the year today with the singing of Memory Eternal for the newly reposed Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj. During his introductory talk Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) announced that St. Herodion of the Lainici Monastery would be glorified this year. More here.

Update: The Holy Synod also took decisions to undertake a national collection for the building of a patriarchal cathedral in Bucharest (the construction of which is underway), to appoint hierarchs for a joint committee with the Romanian Catholic Church to resume their past dialogue, and to begin a dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church concerning the Church of Romania's uncanonical incursions into the territory of the Church of Serbia. More on that and other decisions taken at the Holy Synod's recent session can be found here.

Prodromou Skete Elects New Abbot

The Romanian-speaking Skete of St. John the Baptist (commonly known as Prodromou) on Mount Athos has elected a new superior, Hieromonk Atanasie (Floroiu). Axios! The congratulatory letter of Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest of the Romanian Orthodox Church can be found here.

Council of Cluj Metropolitanate Meets under Patriarch

Patriarch Daniel of Bucharest has presided over a meeting of the Metropolitan Council of the Metropolitanate of Cluj. The Metropolitanate will observe the customary forty days of mourning for the newly reposed Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj before beginning the process of nominating its next metropolitan. More here.

29 Hierarchs Serve at Metropolitan Bartolomeu's Funeral

The funeral services for Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of blessed memory were celebrated today at Cluj's Holy Dormition Cathedral by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest and 28 hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The services were also attended by the Romanian Catholic bishop in Cluj and a number of government officials. Following the memorial Divine Liturgy and funeral Vladica Bartolomeu was buried in the crypt of the cathedral beneath the holy altar. More here.

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch and Romanian President Arrive in Cluj

Preparations for the funeral of Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj have begun in Cluj with Vespers and a memorial served by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest and attended by President Traian Basescu of Romania, many hierarchs of the Church of Romania, and the Orthodox faithful of Cluj. More here.

Funeral Arrangements for Metropolitan Bartolomeu of Cluj

It has been announced that the funeral of Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj will be held this Thursday (3 February) at Cluj's Cathedral of the Dormition. Until the election of a new metropolitan Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) will serve as locum tenens of the metropolitanate. More here.

Metropolitan Bartolomeu of Cluj Reposes

Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj fell asleep in the Lord today. Upon learning of Vladica Bartolomeu's repose Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest stated that he was "a defender of the Orthodox Faith." The late metropolitan was a voice for Tradition within the Church of Romania and was one of the front runners in the patriarchal elections that resulted in the more pro-Western Vladica Daniel being elected patriarch. More here. May Vladica Bartolomeu's memory be eternal! Veşnica pomenire!