Ștefana Totorcea

“Women move mountains”: International Mountain Day 2022

“Women move mountains” is this year’s International Mountain Day theme. The theme was chosen because men from the mountains often migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods, while women have taken on many tasks formerly done by men. “Yet, mountain women are often invisible due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to…

Dec 11, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: November 28 – December 5, 2022

The feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew and the National Day of Romania were the most important events between November 28 and December 4, 2022. Please see below our latest Week in Pictures feature. Last week’s most liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you…

Dec 5, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Vadu Negrilesei, Romania: Building started at monastery dedicated to Elders Cleopa Ilie and Paisie Olaru

Two of the most significant Romanian elders of the 20th century were honoured on Friday with the laying of the foundation stone of a future monastery to be dedicated in their honour. The blessing of the foundation stone was officiated by Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți and by Auxiliary Bishop Damaschin of Dorna. His…

Dec 5, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

On Romania’s National Day, UNESCO recognizes Romanian blouse as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO has decided to inscribe the Romanian blouse on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The application was made by Romania in cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, because the cultural practice is common to both territories. An amazing coincidence was that the decision was made in a session which started on…

Dec 1, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: November 21 – 27, 2022

Please find below our weekly selection of Orthodox snapshots from professional and amateur photographers. The photos were taken between November 21 – 27, 2022. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection of photos? We…

Nov 30, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

“Virgin Orans” Order for Yelena Popovic. She asked for guidance from the Mother of God in making St Nectarios film

Father Nicolae Dascălu, Patriarchal Counselor and director of the Lumina publications, handed film director Yelena Popovic the “Virgin Orans” Order on Tuesday, granted by the Patriarch of Romania. The ceremony took place on Tuesday, at the preview of “Man of God” a film she wrote, directed and produced to bring to screen the life of…

Nov 30, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Yelena Popovic, from Hollywood to faith: Man can never be happy if he doesn’t have God in his heart

“Man can never be happy if he doesn’t have God in his heart,” says Yelena Popovic, who fled the war in former Yugoslavia and made herself a life in Los Angeles and an acting career at Hollywood. She discovered Orthodoxy in America, or, rather said, she re-tapped to her inner spiritual identity inherited from her…

Nov 29, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Yelena Popovic: My goal was to bring St Nectarios to the hearts of people. I felt his story could help them

“My goal was to bring St Nectarios to the hearts of people. I felt if I could do that, this particular story could help them”, said Yelena Popovic in an exclusive interview for Basilica.ro. “It’s a great thing to give hope.” Yelena Popovic is the director and scriptwriter of the film “Man of God”, about…

Nov 28, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Plea for the rights of the unborn children on World Children’s Day

This year, 20 November, marks three decades since UNICEF established World Children’s Day to celebrate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is much talk about children’s rights and about involving children in decision-making processes, but less about the right to life for the unborn children. Children have fundamental rights,…

Nov 20, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Neamț Monastery celebrates St. Paisius Velichkovsky in 300th year since his birth

Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina celebrated on Tuesday the Divine Liturgy for the feast of St. Paisius at Neamț Monastery in northeastern Romania, where the great saint served as abbot. Met. Teofan was joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip—the Ukrainian hierarch of St. Paisius’ hometown of Poltava—and several other hierarchs from the Romanian Orthodox…

Nov 18, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: November 7 – 13, 2022

Joy, faith, and hope are only a few of the emotions conveyed by our selection of this week’s pictures. Please see below some Orthodox photos captured between November 7 – 13, 2022. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be…

Nov 15, 2022Ștefana Totorcea