In a world dominated by information, Patriarch Daniel considered the presence of the Orthodox Church essential in Romanian media. Thus, just one month after his enthronement, on October 27, 2007, he founded the Basilica Media Centre, which includes Radio Trinitas, Trinitas TV, Lumina publications, the Basilica News Agency, and the Press and Public Relations Office.
Imagine a news website without wars, epidemics, crimes, or scandals. Visit Basilica.ro to read about the efforts of people of goodwill in combating hunger and fear, about solidarity in the face of illness, about life after death, and about saving peace.
The site was officially launched on June 16, 2008, and its activities started at that date. The newest component of the Basilica Media Centre is, so far, the only news agency of an autocephalous Orthodox Church.
The agency started with the clear role “of presenting in the form of news articles and press documentaries the institutions, activities, and attitudes of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as other Churches, on various current issues.”
Initially, Basilica functioned as a news aggregator from all the dioceses of the Romanian Patriarchate, directly taking the information with little intervention in form and content. Major restructurings followed in 2010, 2012, and 2016.
With the massive migration of print media to digital, the relevance, quality, and appearance of the news on Basilica.ro increased significantly. Thus, Basilica.ro became Romania’s most important religious news site, being cited by both national media and international publications.
Approximately 15% of the articles are also available in English.
The Church on Social Media
Starting in 2016, with the update of the site, a rethinking of the visual identity took place. At the same time, the initial motto “The Good News Shared with Everyone” was synthesized into “The Good to Know.”
On social networks, the Basilica News Agency has taken on, in addition to the function of information, a role of catechesis and religious education dedicated especially to young people. Greater emphasis was placed on photography, the creation of infographics with Orthodox teachings, and memes with various quotes.
Orthodox Photography
Like major news agencies, Basilica.ro photojournalists bring to your attention every Monday “The Week in Pictures.”
The project, initiated in July 2018, presents the most interesting photographs from the Orthodox world.
From implementation until now, “The Week in Pictures” series has exceeded 300 articles.
Over time, Basilica.ro has had several initiatives related to Orthodox photography, among which the “Church Life During the Pandemic” Contest and the “Our Parents and Grandparents” Exhibition are worth mentioning.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
