Cultural

Egypt: Team led by Romanian archaeologist discover world’s oldest known monastery

A Franco-Norwegian team led by Romanian archaeologist Victor Ghica discovered the oldest archaeologically attested monastic site in the world. The site is 370 kilometers south-west of Cairo, Egypt, and it dates back to the 4th century. The discovery made at Tall Ğanūb Qaṣr al-‘Ağūz, in the al-Bahariya oasis, certifies that Christian monasticism was born in…

Mar 17, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Face of God: It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve God’s creation

“The Face of God,” a recently released film, features Orthodox Christian perspectives from North America on climate change. The film presents reflections based on the experience and responses from Orthodox communities on the ecological crisis. Voices of clergy and lay leaders, scientists and theologians, as well as parish communities, focus on ecology, theology, and our…

Mar 11, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Mother Alexandra honoured in Iaşi: Commemoration service and exhibition

Princess Ileana, the last princess of Romania, better known as Mother Alexandra, was commemorated in Iași, Romania, on the 30th anniversary of her repose. The National Athenaeum in Iași inaugurated a photo exhibition in her honour. The memorial service was held in the Artists’ Chapel of the Athenaeum and attended by the institution’s management, employees,…

Jan 29, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Orthodox organization invites children to strengthen faith through a short film competition

A Christian Orthodox organization from Sidney, St Ypomoni Family and Friends Ministry, launched a short film competition for children. The initiative aims to strengthen their faith and make them reflect on the main message of the Gospel: love of God and of one’s neighbour. “Fruits of the Spirit” is the theme of this inaugural edition.…

Jan 22, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Orthodox high school students lay garland of red carnations on Eminescu’s shoulders to mark National Culture Day

The students of the Orthodox Pedagogical High School “Anastasia Popescu” in Bucharest continued this year the tradition of placing a garland of red carnations on the shoulders of the statue of Mihai Eminescu in front of the Romanian Athenaeum to mark Romania’s National Culture Day. Prof. Monica Șerbănescu, the director of the high school, posted…

Jan 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

“Colours of Orthodoxy. Finland” photo contest winners announced

The winners of the “Colours of Orthodoxy. Finland” photo contest were announced at the end of October. The jury assembled online to evaluate the 880 photos sent by more than 100 participants from ten countries. Of these, 20 photos were selected for each category.  the winning ones were selected. To decide the Grand Prize winner,…

Nov 10, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Yelena Popovic, director of the film about St. Nektarios: An Orthodox Christian can offer a lot to the world

Yelena Popovic, writer and director of “Man of God”, the film about St. Nektarios’s life,  offered Basilica News Agency an exclusive interview in which she speaks of the value of Orthodoxy and of God’s presence in her life and in the life of the film’s collaborators. The movie was made in cooperation with the Vatopaidi…

Nov 9, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian films at Byzanfest feature St. Nicholas and the children from Valea Plopului as main characters

Two Romanian films are registered in the Byzanfest Orthodox Film Festival, which is unfolding online between October 23 and November 8: a psychological drama where the main character turns out to be St Nicholas and a documentary showing an educational game with the children from the Orthodox Valea Plopului settlement. “500” is nominated for the…

Nov 6, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Cultural tour of 160 wooden Orthodox churches launches in Romania

A tourist-cultural route of wooden churches in Romania was officially launched on Tuesday, October 27, at an event dedicated to the protection and cultural valorization of the historical monument of the wooden church in Valea Crișului, Bihor County. The event was attended by representatives of the local public administrations registered in the cultural route and…

Oct 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Newly-discovered underwater ruins point to Christian past on Turkey’s Black Sea coast

The authorities of Ordu province, in northern Turkey, announced on Monday that experts from the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology found the ruins of a church on the bottom of Lake Gaga, submerged 15 meters below the surface. The age of these vestiges is yet to be determined. The 15-acre lake is the most important…

Oct 22, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

“Passage to the Light” | The digitized heritage of the Holy Mount Athos goes on display in Athens

An interactive digital exhibition with codices, illuminated manuscripts and objects from the heritage of the Holy Mount Athos is open for the public at the Concert Hall in Athens. The event presents the digitalization work made by the Athonite monks. The visitors can also see a day from a monk’s life – a very welcome…

Oct 22, 2020Ștefana Totorcea