Today marks 17 years since the Basilica News Agency, the media arm of the Romanian Patriarchate, published its first article.
Established as a department on October 27, 2007, within the Basilica Media Center, the Romanian Patriarchate’s news agency began operating effectively the following year, with its first news story released online on June 16, 2008.
Initially, the website functioned mainly as a news aggregator from diocesan websites across the Romanian Patriarchate. However, after 2015, the focus shifted toward producing original, high-quality journalism tailored for a general audience—both within and outside the Church.
“Although it is a relatively small newsroom, the Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate offers a wide range of relevant news both in the context of the Church and at the level of society in general. This information is particularly beneficial for Orthodox believers connected to our increasingly dynamic society,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in 2023, on the agency’s 15th anniversary.
Alongside its journalistic mission, Basilica has also pioneered Orthodox digital media and has gradually become an inspiration for faith-based communities. Its distinctiveness lies in how it conveys spiritual content through innovative graphic methods, particularly targeting younger audiences on social platforms.
In 2015, the agency established its presence on social media. It is now active bilingually on Facebook, X (former Twitter), and Instagram; publishes daily news mostly in Romanian via WhatsApp and Telegram; and shares selected content on YouTube and Pinterest.
In 2016, the agency underwent a rebranding process, adopting its own logo and the motto: “The good to know”.
Another important aspect of the agency’s work is its attention to photography and photojournalism from Church events. These visual elements add a warm, human touch that appeals to a broad audience—whether or not they are churchgoers.
The English-language version of the website also serves as a source of inspiration and a bridge between the Romanian Orthodox Church and its Sister Churches worldwide, providing a dynamic insight into Romanian Orthodoxy for Orthodox believers of other nationalities.
Photo: Basilica.ro
