Cultural

Romanian Orthodox Church launches digital archive of over 60,000 cultural artifacts

The Romanian Patriarchate has launched a major project to digitise the cultural heritage of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Romanians will gain online access to over 60,000 historical books, manuscripts, documents, and other valuable items from churches across the country. The project will scan and digitally preserve 60,015 historical, artistic, and documentary items dating from the…

Jul 21, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Byzantine-era basilica ruins discovered near Fethiye Fortress in Southwestern Turkey

Near the outer walls of the fortified citadel overlooking Fethiye Bay in Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a basilica likely dating back to the Middle Byzantine period (9th–12th centuries AD). The discovery was made during archaeological excavations conducted by experts from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, under the…

Jul 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Oxford University Press to publish Patristic Study Bible led by Romanian Orthodox priest and international scholars

Oxford University Press is preparing a new English translation of the Holy Scriptures—a comprehensive study Bible—in a landmark academic project initiated and co-led by a Romanian Orthodox priest. The Ancient Christian Study Bible (ACSB) The coordinators of the project, titled The Ancient Christian Study Bible (ACSB), are Fr. Eugen Pentiuc, Dean of the Holy Cross…

Jul 10, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Job of Pisidia visits Holy Synod Library in Bucharest

His Eminence Metropolitan Job Getcha of Pisidia (Ecumenical Patriarchate) visited the Library of the Holy Synod last Friday, where he was guided by Archimandrite Policarp Chițulescu, the institution’s director. The Metropolitan was in Bucharest from May 13 to 17, 2025, to participate in the International Theology Symposium titled “The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325):…

May 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Artist reveals first look at reliquary for Saint Cleopas’ relics, honouring Romanian monastic spirituality

Iconographer and church artist Ana-Maria Zară has shared for the first time details of the reliquary being crafted to hold the holy relics of Saint Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria. “In lines of silver, the memories of his spiritual steps through Romanian monastic spirituality will be engraved,” the artist wrote. “Each scene seeks to echo the…

Apr 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Georgian Ambassador proposes continued collaboration on legacy of Saint Anthimos the Iberian during visit to Holy Synod Library

Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to Romania, along with Consul David Chachava, visited the Library of the Holy Synod on Friday, where they held discussions with Archimandrite Policarp Chițulescu, the director of the institution. The purpose of the visit was to propose a continued partnership with the…

Mar 31, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox theologian warns of ‘monarchy of the screen’ and dangers of digital addiction in youth lecture

Last week, Rev. Professor Emanoil Băbuș delivered a lecture titled “Are You Real or Virtual?” in Brașov. According to Lumina Newspaper, he spoke to young people about the dangers of the digital environment, which can lead to screen addiction and, over time, the loss of Christian values. “We spend energy for one purpose: the ecstasy…

Mar 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Vânători-Neamț Natural Park could become Europe’s eighth UNESCO mixed site

Romania’s Vânători-Neamț Natural Park, home to the historic monasteries of Neamț, could become the eighth mixed UNESCO site in Europe. “There are natural sites, and there are cultural sites, but those number in the thousands. However, there are only seven mixed sites in all of Europe. Vânători-Neamț Natural Park could become the eighth. This is…

Mar 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Iosif and Romania’s Ambassador to Paris attend joint session of French and Romanian Academies

On Thursday, the Académie Française hosted a joint session with the Romanian Academy at its headquarters in Paris, commemorating 145 years of diplomatic relations between France and Romania. Among the attendees were: Metropolitan Iosif of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, Clara Staicu, Romanian State Secretary for European Affairs, Ioana Bivolaru, Romania’s…

Feb 21, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Academy President: Patriarchate was a natural step after Great Union, but required major effort

The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was a natural consequence of the enthusiasm that followed the Great Union of 1918, but achieving it required immense effort from the country’s leadership, said Academician Ioan-Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, in an interview published in Lumina Newspaper on the occasion of the Centennial of the Romanian…

Feb 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bilingual edition of Saint John the New’s Akathist bridges Romanian and Ukrainian communities

The Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți has released a bilingual edition (Romanian-Ukrainian) of The Life and Akathist of Saint John the New of Suceava. Published at the end of last year, the book has been showcased at multiple cultural events in Romania and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region. The 5,000-copy print run…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu