Sorin Ioniţe

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Statement on the Global Wildfires

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Statement on the Global Wildfires In recent weeks, our planet has witnessed extreme heatwaves and expansive wildfires throughout the world—from the rain forests of the Amazon and desert regions of Africa, normally snow-covered regions such as the Arctic and Alaska to far away countries from Spain to Siberia. Month after month, we…

Aug 26, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Your support is needed for the purchase of a future Romanian Monastery in the heart of Ireland

The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Southern and Western Europe is kindly requesting your support for the purchase of a future Romanian monastery in the heart of Ireland: Dear all, This is an appeal to your generosity and goodwill, kindly requesting your support for the purchase of a future monastery, which will be established in Ireland with…

Aug 23, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios leads anti-abortion rally in Sydney

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios addressed a 10,000-strong crowd that braved the Sydney winds on Tuesday at the ‘Stand For Life’ protest at Martin Place in opposition to the proposed bill to decriminalise abortion, currently before New South Wales Parliament. Earlier in the day, a pro-choice rally had taken place. Organised in part by a number…

Aug 22, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

World Photography Day 2019: Origin, history and importance

World Photography Day – August 19 – is an annual, worldwide celebration of the art, craft, science and history of photography.  The World Photography Day originated from the invention of the daguerreotype, a photographic processes developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837. On January 9, 1839, The French Academy of Sciences…

Aug 19, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Festive procession with relics of St. Spyridon held on Corfu in honor of defeat of turks

A great annual tradition was again honored on the Greek island of Corfu on Sunday, in celebration of a miracle worked by the island’s patron saint more than 300 years ago. The Divine Liturgy in honor of St. Spyridon was celebrated in the morning, followed by a procession throughout the old city of Kerkyra with…

Aug 14, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

International Youth Day

An initiative by the United Nations, the International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 every year. First observed on August 12, 2000, the day marks an awareness day and draws attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. As mentioned by the UN, there are around 1.8 billion young people…

Aug 12, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

How a Greek Orthodox Priest made Giannis Antetokounmpo a Devout Christian

Millions of words have been written about the great athlete Giannis Antetokounmpo who was voted 2019 Most Valuable Player in the NBA for 2019. Equally as many words have been written about his humble background, growing up in poverty in the Sepolia area of Athens. However, little is known about his faith and his devotion to the…

Aug 7, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

‘The Good to Know’ online magazine: June – July 2019

The June-July 2019 issue of ‘The Good to Know’ online magazine of the Basilica News Agency is now available for download. Containing a summary of the religious events in the entire Orthodox world, ‘The Good to Know’ online magazine can be freely printed out and distributed for more thorough information and spiritual benefit. The magazine features a selection of articles…

Jul 25, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Romanian Patriarch Daniel celebrates His 68th birthday

His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, celebrates on Monday, 22 July 2019, his 68th birthday. He was born on 22 July 1951, to parents Alexe and Stela Ciobotea, in Dobreşti village, Bara commune, county of Timiş. He was baptised Dan-Ilie. Education and professional experience 1958 – 1962 – he attends the primary school in his native…

Jul 22, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

The Week in Pictures: July 8 – 14, 2019

The news in pictures. A selection of photographs from around the Orthodox world, covering a variety of topics from church celebrations to national holidays and spiritual life.

Jul 17, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

The ‘Evyenios Voulgaris’ Scholarship Programme for Advanced Studies in Orthodox Spiritual Life and Theology

The Saint Maxim the Greek Institute, with the support of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopaidi, is introducing the ‘Evyenios Voulgaris’ Scholarship Programme. Evyenios Voulgaris (1716-1806) served as principal of the Athoniada School, which had been established by the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi. In his day, he was the greatest and most important Greek…

Jun 10, 2019Sorin Ioniţe