Cultural

National Culture Day: What is deeply national becomes universal

Romania celebrates National Culture Day on January 15, the date of birth of the National Poet, Mihai Eminescu. The Romanian Parliament adopted the law in 2010 and the day has been marked since 2011. Recently speaking of Mihai Eminescu, Acad. Ioan-Aurel Pop, current President of the Romanian Academy, and Acad. Ana Blandiana said that what…

Jan 15, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

2021 Romfilatelia Christmas stamps show Bucur Ciobanul Church icons of Theotokos

Special stamps have been issued by Romfilatelia for Christmas this year, with the design telling the story of the Nativity of the Lord painted at the beginning of the eighteenth century by the iconographer Ioan. The stamps see Virgin Mary cradling the newborn Jesus in the iconostasis of Bucur Ciobanul Church in Bucharest that dates…

Nov 29, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Sihăstria Monastery: National Cathedral artist paints entrance, Romanians from all over the world work on mosaic

Daniel Codrescu, painter of Romania’s National Cathedral, coordinated last month the painting of the vault from under the entrance tower of Sihăstria (Neamț) Monastery. The team of church painters was joined by Romanian volunteers from all over the world, who learned the mosaic technique and made mosaic icons for the exterior of the tower. Five…

Nov 4, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Photo Contest dedicated to Hagia Sophia Basilica announces its winners

The Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy announced last month the winners of the international photo contest “Hagia Sophia. The churches of the Wisdom of God in history and in the world”. The Grand Prize for the Ancient Churches category goes to the American Larry Angier, who sent a black-and-white series of photos of…

Nov 3, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Byzanfest: Documentaries on Holy Prince Neagoe Basarab and Romanian carol singers made it to the final selection

A documentary made by Romanian doctoral student Cristian Ciorăneanu on the Holy Prince Neagoe Basarab was selected among the finalists of the Byzanfest Orthodox Film Festival. An Australian film about Romanian folk carol singers has also been selected.  The long-feature documentary In the Holy Prince Neagoe Basarab’s Footsteps, was screened in preview in Romania at…

Oct 27, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Efforts to translate the Bible into the languages of the world accelerated during the pandemic

Efforts to translate the Bible into all the languages of the world accelerated during the pandemic. The Bible has been fully translated into 717 languages. The number represents a tenth of the world’s languages, but it is an increase of 13 languages compared to the previous year. One new translation was launched every week during…

Oct 4, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

St Vladimir’s Seminary Press profiles Patriarch Daniel in a new book: Rebuilding Orthodoxy in Romania

The tenth volume of St Vladimir’s Seminary Press “Orthodox Christian Profiles” Series is dedicated to His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, the second-most populous Orthodox Patriarchate in the world. The recently-published book is entitled Patriarch Daniel: Rebuilding Orthodoxy in Romania. After Communism, the Romanian Orthodox Church had to overcome many difficulties to reestablish and strengthen Church…

Sep 23, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Tronos Psaltic Group performed live at St. Vladimir’s Seminary

Members of the Tronos Psaltic Group from the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest performed Byzantine chant live at St. Vladimir’s Seminary on Wednesday. The Romanians led by Archdeacon Mihail Bucă were joined by the Seminary’s Byzantine choir and sextet led by Dn. Nicholas Fine and Dr. Harrison Russin, assistant professor of liturgical music. “We…

Sep 18, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

These are the winning pictures at OrthPhoto Awards

The winners of the first edition of the International Orthodox Photography Competition OrthPhoto Awards were announced on Tuesday, August, 10, during a ceremony held at the Center for Orthodox Culture in Bialystok, Poland. More than 650 photographers from almost 30 countries entered the competition. Four Romanians were nominated among the winners of the contest. We…

Aug 20, 2021Iulian Dumitraşcu

OrthPhoto Awards international photo competition announces its winners

The first edition of the international Orthodox photo competition “OrthPhoto Awards” concluded on Tuesday with the announcement of its winners. The ceremony was held at the Center of Orthodox Culture in Bialystok, Poland, and it was live-streamed on different platforms. More than 650 photographers from almost 30 countries took part and over 4,500 photos presenting…

Aug 11, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Ashdod: The Patriarch of Jerusalem participates in historical liturgy at the ruins of a 6th century Byzantine church

The Patriarch of Jerusalem and clerics from the Holy Land participated on Thursday in an open-air Liturgy officiated at the ruins of a Byzantine basilica near Ashdod. The patriarch officiated a Trisagion for the repose of those mentioned on a recently found mosaic on the site – among them, a bishop who participated in two…

Jul 31, 2021Ștefana Totorcea