On Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the LIBREX Book Fair in Iasi, took place the launch of the book „Behold, I have told you! - Preocupări de pedagogie pastorală comparată”, signed by Fr. prof. univ. dr. habil. Constantin Valer Necula, professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology „Andrei Saguna” in Sibiu.

The event was held at the Casa Cărții in Iasi, in the Art Galleries, and gathered readers, students, teachers and people close to the work of Father Constantin Necula, in a warm atmosphere, as are usually meetings around his books.

Father Ciprian Blaga, counselor of the Cultural Sector of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților, Mrs. Daniela Ceredeev, inspector and Father Ștefănel-Stelian Ciurciun, director of the Publishing and Typography Department, spoke about the book. The interventions emphasized the topicality of the themes addressed by the author and the need for a pastorate that responds to the concrete man, in an increasingly fragmented and hurried world.

The launch took place on the eve of the Sunday of the Samaritan woman, and this closeness gave the event a special significance. Like the dialog between Christ and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, this book is also built around the idea of encounter and inner search. Fr. Constantin Necula does not propose rigid answers or ready-made pastoral formulas, but invites the reader to reflection, sincerity and inner repositioning.

One of the central ideas of the book is that pastoral ministry cannot be reduced to administration or the management of external activities. The author speaks of the danger of an „office pastorate”, in which the priest risks becoming merely an administrator of holy things, losing touch with the person and his thirst for meaning. On the other hand, the book proposes a return to the deeply vocational dimension of ministry, to the priest who once again becomes a teacher of faith and a real companion of the community.

The book also impresses with the way it manages to combine theological rigor with accessible and vivid language. The numerous metaphors and images used by the author transform the reading into a continuous dialog with the reader. The parish is described as „an embassy of the kingdom of heaven on earth” and baptism as the beginning of a lifelong journey of formation. These are images that stay in the mind and give the book a strong pedagogical dimension.

In essence, „Behold, I Have Told You!” is a book about authenticity, about the relationship between the Church and contemporary man and about the need for a ministry that goes beyond efficiency, statistics and appearances. It is an invitation to depth, to dialog and to the rediscovery of a living pastorate, capable of responding to the true questions of the soul.

The book launch was part of the program of the 31st edition of LIBREX Book Fair - „Books Spring in Iasi”, one of the most important cultural events dedicated to books in Romania.

The book can be purchased on the Crimca Publishing House website.

Priest Dr. Ștefănel-Stelian Ciurciun,

Director of the Publishing and Printing Department 

Articolul Întâlnirile Crimca / Lansare de carte la LIBREX 2026: „Iată, v-am spus vouă!” – un nou volum semnat de părintele Constantin Necula apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

The program will include:

• Concert at The „Saint John the New of Suceava” Archdiocesan Choir”, conducted by Fr. Lucian Tablan-Popescu;
• Book presentation, The Ten Commandments, moral guidelines for modern man, review by Niculina Iacob, Ph.D., Faculty of Letters and Communication Sciences, „Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava;
• Minologhion, Saint Marina the Great Martyr, supported by Ecaterina Vicleanu, Abbess of Moldovița Monastery;
• Card Fair at Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților.

This is an open event; please send an email to the following address to let us know you plan to attend: ceredeev.daniela@isj.sv.edu.ro .

Irina Ursachi

Articolul Chindii culturale la Mănăstirea Moldovița apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

The event will take place Thursday, May 9, 2024, starting on 5:00 p.m., in The „Archbishop Pimen” Hall” a Suceava Diocesan Center and will include:

• The Lecture Wall-words and window-words, supported by the founder of the first Grammar Schools from across the country, a regular contributor to the show Speak properly!, TVR;
• opening national traveling exhibition of calligraphy Word that (is) beautiful, which includes 451 entries submitted to the national competition of the same name;
• the launch of the debut book On the porch of thought, signed by Oana-Carmen Budeanu, published at Crimca Publishing house of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților;
• Living Room Book by book, for children and for the Christian mom's library, Crimca Publishing house of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților.

Registration is by email to the event coordinator, ceredeev.daniela@isj.sv.edu.ro by Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Prof. Daniela Ceredeev, school inspector, event coordinator

Articolul În Săptămâna Luminată, conferința despre lumina Cuvântului și-a cuvintelor, la Suceava apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

The Holy Gospels tell us what the Kingdom of God is and, very importantly, that the Kingdom of God implies an extraordinary, profound, and intimate closeness between man and God, to the point that the essential truth is proclaimed: the Kingdom of God is within man (Luke 17:21). This word of Christ the Savior emphasizes this closeness, this intimacy that draws man so close to God that no distance remains between them; man is no longer outside of divinity, but is clothed in Christ through baptism (Gal 3:27). That is why repentance „is no longer conditioned by nearness, but by the very presence of the Kingdom of God, through His person and His work: ”Behold, the Kingdom of God has come upon you’ (Matt. 11:28), which must be not outside, but (Luke 17:21) … it aims at transformation, the transfiguration of the soul.”[1]. Thus, repentance concerns the inner self of a person—his heart—and cannot be reduced to certain cold, outward gestures. This life-giving inner struggle is captured by the painter Toma in the lives of two holy figures from the history of our salvation: the Prophet David and Saint Peter the Apostle.

The Prophet David

David's repentance is depicted in the tomb chamber, which was apparently painted by Mark, the disciple of the great painter[2] and is included in the register of the Miracles of Saint Michael the Archangel. The painter condenses nearly two chapters from the Second Book of Kings—chapters 11 and 12, verses 1–25—into a single scene.  Here is depicted the drama of David’s sinful love as he falls in love with Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David plots to have Uriah killed on the battlefield so that he may take Bathsheba as his wife. But this displeases God, who sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke him. Nathan tells David a parable about two men: one was rich, with many sheep and cattle, and the other was poor, having nothing but a single ewe lamb that had grown up with his children, slept at his breast, and was like a daughter to him. But when a traveler came to the rich man, the rich man would not bring himself to sacrifice one of his own sheep or cattle, so he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for his guest. And then David, filled with anger, pronounces the sentence: “The man who did this deserves to die,” and “for the sheep he must pay fourfold, … because he showed no mercy” (2 Kings 12:5–6). Then Nathan tells David that he is the man who did this. Although God had delivered him from Saul’s hand and blessed his life, he committed this injustice by disregarding God.

Then “David, the godly father, though he had once erred and wavered, … was struck by the arrow of debauchery and enslaved by the spear to the punishment of death”[3] Filled with bitterness and overcome with grief, he confessed: „I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Kings 12:12).  Seeing David’s repentance, God forgave him and granted him life: „The Lord has taken away your sin,” said Nathan, “and you will not die” (2 Kings 12:13).  What we observe in this biblical account is that when David perceived God’s word as being addressed to someone else, the consequence of sin was inevitable—death.  But when David receives God’s Word as addressed to himself and takes it to heart, it stirs up sorrow and remorse for his sin within his soul; and then the result of this attitude removes God’s punishment—death—and brings life.

The painter captures in a single scene the moment of David’s repentance—the point of greatest intensity and life-giving power—which brings reconciliation with God. Against the backdrop of a city wall, the prophet David is depicted next to a royal throne upon which rests a red cushion, a symbol of royalty. This royalty is emphasized by the golden crown on his head, adorned with precious stones. Yet he does not sit on the throne—as a symbol of power—but in humble repentance he bows his head to the ground, his hands clasped in prayer, seeking God’s mercy, the only thing that can wipe away and wash clean all iniquity (Ps 50). The prophet Nathan stands, immediately after his conversation with David. He faces the Archangel Michael, and with his right hand outstretched toward him, he presents the repentance of the one who has fallen into sin.

Although the Archangel Michael has his sword raised, ready to punish David for his sin, it does not come down because the repentance that springs from a „broken and contrite heart” (Ps 50:18) has the power to turn God’s wrath into mercy. The expression of this sorrow left in the wake of sin is crystallized in Psalm 50, a lesson in deep repentance also taken up in the hymns of Great Lent by Saint Andrew of Crete: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! David wept over two sins, … he wet his bed with tears, but I have not a single drop. I have despaired, and I pray: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy.”[4]. He becomes for us a teacher of sincere, fervent repentance that also gives us hope, because it brings not only the forgiveness of sins: “Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 50:9), but also reconciliation with God: „You will give joy and gladness to my ears; my humble bones shall rejoice.” In this way, the terrible fall becomes an opportunity to take your place in the work of the world’s salvation, of affirming and expanding the Kingdom of God in the world: „I will teach the lawless Your ways, and those who do not believe in You will turn to You” (Ps 50:14).

The Apostle Peter

Peter’s repentance following his threefold denial of Christ in the high priest’s courtyard is depicted in the nave by the great painter from Suceava, Toma—„magister in diversis artibus”—himself”[5]. This dramatic account of Peter’s denial was recorded by all four evangelists: Matthew 26:69–75, Mark 14:66–72, Luke 22:55–62, and John 18:16–27.

In the midst of the drama surrounding the Savior’s arrest and trial, when He was in the high priest’s courtyard, the evangelists captured the fragility and helplessness of human nature. Peter, who just a few verses earlier had promised the Savior that he would never deny Him, even if he were the only one left (Mt 26:34–35), we see him, under the pressure of fear, denying the Savior three times. The evangelist Matthew presents Peter’s denial as a true crescendo: first, he tells the accusing servant that he does not know what she is talking about (v. 70), and then he directly states that he does not know „this man” (v. 72). Finally, he goes so far as to curse and swear that he never knew Jesus (v. 74). But as soon as he hears the rooster crow and remembers the Savior’s words, he realizes the depth of his sin, and in proportion to that depth, he repents, weeping bitterly over his sin (Matt. 26:75): „When Peter denied You three times, he immediately realized what had been said to him; but he offered You tears of repentance. Lord, have mercy on me and save me!”[6].

In the iconographic program at Humor, the scene of Peter’s denial and repentance is placed within the cycle of the Savior’s Passion, painted as a continuous frieze, to which the painter dedicates the main register of the nave. In this register, the biblical events are depicted in a continuous flow, constituting „the most important and most compelling part of the ensemble of paintings decorating the nave.”[7]. The scene is set against the south wall, and within this compact space, Toma depicts Peter’s three denials, portraying him in all three situations: in front of the servant girl who leads him into the high priest’s courtyard, in front of the fire, and also in Galilean attire, which reveals him to be a close associate of the Savior. Just above, the rooster is depicted, reminding Peter that the Savior knew in advance that he would deny Him three times (Mt 26:75): „Peter, seeing what was happening at that moment, was seized with fear; when questioned by a servant girl, he denied You, Lord, not only as You said, but as You knew—You who know all things.”[8].

A skilled theologian, Thomas uses his chosen means of expression to portray the rooster as the catalyst for Peter’s repentance. It is perched on a pillar above the scene of the three denials, its visibility signaling that it was to mark an important event. The color red highlights the drama of the situation. It stares intently at Peter, who is lamenting his sin, its gaze seeming to reflect that of the Savior, who—just a few verses earlier—had told Peter—with sorrow—that he would deny Him three times, after which the rooster would crow. Thomas puts all his skill to work in conveying Peter’s anguish. Peter, overcome with grief, seems unable even to stand on his own two feet and leans against a table. A piece of clothing ties his right hand to his neck, restricting his freedom and thus suggesting the bondage into which sin plunges one.  He is bowed over, his forehead resting on his left hand, while his eyes are closed. In this way, the painter shows that Peter seems to have realized he has lost everything; he has lost the meaning of life; he has lost Christ. Yet the delicacy of the scene reveals that Peter has not lost his faith in Christ’s forgiving and life-giving love, a fact attested to by the Evangelist John in the scene of Peter’s restoration to the apostolate after he confesses his love for Christ three times (once for each denial). This confession culminates in the moment when Peter opens his heart to the Savior: „You know everything. You know that I love You” (John 21:17). By reinstating him to the apostolate as shepherd of „My sheep” (vv. 15–17), the Savior tells Peter that he must love the flock as He loved it—that is, to the very end, even unto death and the cross. Someone else will gird him and lead him where he does not wish to go, but there he will meet Christ, on the cross, on the outskirts of Rome. This is the love that Jesus awakens in Peter’s heart—a love by which Peter will live until that encounter.

The fragility and delicacy of this moment of return are presented by Toma in contrast to the moment of Judas’s hanging; Judas no longer possesses Peter’s strength to turn back and, in despair, chooses the path of suicide. The painter depicts Judas hanging from a palm frond—an impossible feat—thus suggesting that despair is not a natural human condition and that man was not created for death; rather, human death as a consequence of sin is an accident.

We see how, through sincere repentance, „man can regain his original radiance.”[9] gaining not only the forgiveness of sins but also rebirth, being restored to his original state. Saint Symeon the New Theologian also emphasizes the healing and restorative power of repentance, which saves the lost and brings to life those who have fallen into the death of sin. Moreover, repentance has the gift of strengthening love for God, for „to whom much is forgiven, he loves much” (Luke 7:47): “Those who repent fervently, You cleanse and enlighten with the mercy of Your compassion, and You unite them with Your light, making them partakers of Your divinity without envy; and—something foreign to both angelic and human thoughts—You speak with them often, as with Your true friends.”[10].

In the hope of this true friendship, let us honor these teachers of repentance not only by offering them prayers and hymns, but above all by following the path of their lives, illuminated by a fervent love for God and sincere repentance, spring from a broken heart.

Fr. Felician Buzilă

Bibliography

***, The Bible or Holy Scripture, Published by the Orthodox Bible and Mission Institute, Bucharest, 2019;

***, Liturgy Book, Published by the Orthodox Bible and Mission Institute, Bucharest, 2012;

***, The Triod, Published by the Biblical and Missionary Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Bucharest, 1983

Calinic, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți, The Trilogy of the Word: Sermons for Sundays Throughout the Year, Crimca Publishing House, Suceava, 2022;

Ciobanu, Radu, The Blue Immortal, Excelsior Art Publishing House, Timișoara, 2012

Drăguț, Vasile, HUMOR, Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1973.

[1] Calinic, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți, The Trilogy of the Word, p. 243

[2] Radu Ciobanu, The Blue Immortal, p. 292

[3] The Triod, The Great Canon, Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent, Ode 7, p. 370

[4] The Triod,  The Sedelnas of the Octoechos, Tone 2, Tuesday at Matins, Sedelna 2, p. 611

[5] Radu Ciobanu, The Blue Immortal, p. 46

[6] The Triod,  Antiphon 7, Tone 8, Thursday Evening Matins, p. 529

[7] Vasile Drăguț, Humor, p. 11

[8] The Triod, Small Vespers on Holy and Great Thursday, Ode 5, Troparion 5, p. 603

[9] Calinic, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți, Trilogy of the Word, p. 264

[10] Liturgy Book, The Seventh Prayer, by Saint Symeon the New Theologian, from *Prayers Before Holy Communion*, p. 361

Articolul Mijloace de expresie a pocăinței în pictura murală a Mănăstirii Humorului: Sfântul Apostol Petru și Sfântul Proroc David apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

May God bless the year 2021, bestowing upon us the abundance of His bounties!

Articolul Calendar creștin-ortodox 2021 apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

During this period, the Suceava County School Inspectorate in partnership with the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților, the Prefect's Institution - Suceava County, Monitorul de Suceava, Intermedia Suceava Television, the Faculty of Orthodox Theology „Dumitru Stăniloae” - specialization in Social Assistance, Iași, Association Equal Opportunities, Value, Truth - SEVA and Association Project Pro Europe Project are carrying out activities within the campaign „Philanthropy and in pandemics”, a complementary initiative of prevention and management of the situation generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic, in old people's homes in Suceava County.

The campaign takes place in the current socio-medical and philanthropic context, namely: the difficulties faced by homes for the elderly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; the Council of the European Union Recommendation of May 22, 2018 on key competences for lifelong learning, namely raising the level of personal, social and learning to learn skills to improve health-sensitive and future-oriented life managementr; the proclamation of 2020 by the Romanian Patriarchate as The Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Philanthropists and the Anniversary Year of the Pastorship of Parents and Children.

The launch of the campaign took place on Sunday, November 1st, on the feast of the silverless saints Cosmas and Damian, during the Virtual Charity Book Fair, where the book was also presented Family and philanthropy - two divine-human institutions, signed by His Eminence Archbishop Calinic, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuților, to whom the idea of the charity event is also due. The Archbishop provided the campaign with an important collection of books, including 21 titles, in multiple copies, bearing his signature as author or coordinator, which could be purchased by the participants of the campaign. webinar-the pastoral-missionary book launch/presentation: priests, teachers, representatives of public institutions and civil society, press, representatives of parents' associations and student councils.

The funds thus obtained will be used in full for the purchase of medicines, sanitary materials, protective equipment for homes for the elderly in Suceava County.

Some of the 21 volumes presented in the virtual author gallery, selected - with no small difficulty - from over 60 titles bearing the signature of His Eminence the Most Reverend Father Calinic, were reviewed in the webinar-of, thus: Family and philanthropy - two divine-human institutions, the most recent book signed by His Eminence Archbishop Calinic, published in October this year by Crimca Publishing House - lecturer Mihaela Grădinariu, professor and writer, member of the Romanian Writers' Union, Iasi Branch; The Triod - Golgotha of repentance. 33 Sermons, published by Doxologia Publishing House, 2011, reviewed by Prof. Constantin-Bogdan Feștilă, coordinator of the St. Nicholas Catechetical Cultural Center, Fălticeni, the only one of its kind in Suceava County; Sundays - seals of the Resurrection. 40 Sermons on the Sundays of the Octave, Doxologia Publishing House, 2010, chronicle by pr. prof. dr. Alexandru Cojocari, „Sfântul Nicolae” Parish Vama, „Dragoș Vodă” National High School Câmpulung Moldovenesc.

To date, over 80 institutions and non-governmental organizations are involved in the campaign: Suceava County School Inspectorate; Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților, Social-Philanthropic sector; Prefect's Institution - Suceava County; „Dumitru Stăniloae” Faculty of Orthodox Theology Iasi, specialization Social Assistance; Monitorul de Suceava; Intermedia Television Suceava; Equal Opportunities, Value, Truth Association - SEVA; Association of Students and Graduates of Theology and Social Assistance Theology - Iasi and Association Project Pro Europe, partners; as well as about „Sfântul Ioan cel Nou” County Emergency Hospital Suceava; Mavromati Emergency Hospital Botoșani; Câmpulung Moldovenesc Municipal Hospital; „Tell me a story for the soul” Association Bucharest, Regional Center against Human Trafficking Suceava, ”Soul for Soul„ Association Bilca, ”St. Joseph the Merciful„ Day Care and Recovery Center for the Elderly Iași; Catechetical Cultural Center ”Sfântul Nicolae„, Fălticeni; Multicare Association; Association ”Luptăm cu autismul„ Dornești, Association of Young Orthodox Orthodox Suceveni (ATOS), Association ”Sf. Voievod Ștefan cel Mare„ Hârja, ”Sfântul Nicolae„ Parish, Câmpulung Moldovenesc; ”Sfântul Nicolae„ Parish, Sadova; ”Sfântul Ierarh Nicolae„ Parish, Ciumârna; ”Sfântul Nicolae" Parish, Vama; Șcheia I Parish; SC AIDA SRL; LAR CHEMICAL R&A; Darifarm Pharmacy; SC Alyada Complet Style Srl; secondary schools, high schools and colleges in Suceava, Iași, Bacău, Neamț, Botoșani counties and Bucharest.

The ambassador of the „Philanthropy and Pandemics” campaign is the artist Angelica Flutur, a constant presence in the projects addressed to the Solca Home for the Elderly; the artist reiterated her support this time as well.

„Campania Philanthropy and pandemics comes in response to our need and our desire to be there for those whom life tries more often, the elderly in social homes, so threatened by suffering, especially at this time. The campaign's activities continue, and those who wish to become do-gooders for the «grandparents lost by their loved ones» are gratefully invited to join us.”(Daniela Ceredeev, school inspector for religion, coordinator)

And in the days to come, those who want one or more of the volumes presented in the virtual book fair can make a donation to the account RO13 RZBR 0000 0600 0600 1360 0238, CIF: 28568800, thus supporting this philanthropic project.

Articolul Salon virtual de carte „Filantropie și-n pandemie” apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.

The meeting was preceded by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by the cultural counselor Constantin Oprea and the archdeacon Vasile Demciuc - delegates of His All-Holiness Archbishop Calinic, the abbot being part of the sobor and the parish priest Adrian Dulgheriu.

Adrian Dulgheriu opened the conference by introducing the first speaker - Fr. Claudiu Coman from Ioneasa Parish, who presented the paper „Pastorship of priests and children. Scriptural landmarks”. Fr. Claudiu Coman spoke, based on scriptural grounds, about what it means the creation of the world by God and the Incarnation of the Son of God, and on the other hand, about what it means the creation of man-made society and its consequences on it. In the second part of the talk, Fr. Coman focused in particular on the education of children, who must be prepared for earthly life, but especially for the Kingdom of God.

The second lecture - „Philanthropy in the life of the Church. Faces of Romanian philanthropists” - was presented by Fr. Daniel Loluță from Pleșești Parish, who insisted on what it meant to establish philanthropic institutions in Walla Wallachia and Moldova, followed by the evocation of some faces of philanthropists, starting with Anastasie Crimca and the voivodes of the Romanian provinces.

Vasile Demciuc showed the most recent book of His Eminence Archbishop Calinic, entitled „Family and Philanthropy. Two divine-human institutions”, recently published by Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceva and Rădăuților.

In the review by Fr. Prof. Demciuc, it was noted that the volume adds to the more than 70 books written by the new Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuților and proves to be a valuable guide and a testimony to the fact that the Christian religion has been, is and will be a permanent source of inspiration for mankind. The book is a welcome and profound confession of faith on the divine-human nature of family and philanthropy in Romanian Orthodox Christianity. The counselor Constantin Oprea thanked the fathers for their beautiful works, conveying the message of His Eminence Archbishop Calinic to increase philanthropic activity in the parishes they are in charge of.

An article by pr. Georgian Rotar

Source: ziarullumina.ro

Articolul Conferință pastoral-misionară și prezentare de carte în Protopopiatul Fălticeni apare prima dată în Editura CRIMCA.