Cultural

Romania has 1,440 wooden churches: A legacy of a hostile edict in Transylvania

Romania’s cultural heritage includes over 1,400 wooden churches constructed before 1918, according to a report by PressOne, supported by the National Historic Cultural Tourism Program “Attractive Romania.” These wooden churches are almost evenly distributed throughout the country, although the figures might suggest otherwise: 650 in Transylvania, Banat, Crișana, and Maramureș ~500 in Muntenia, Oltenia, and…

Jul 25, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

UNESCO World Heritage: Several religious sites in Romania added to the tentative list

Romania’s Minister of Culture Raluca Turcan announced on her Facebook page Wednesday that several monuments have been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status by being included in the country’s Tentative List. Peleș and Pelișor Castles, several former communist prisons, the “Holy Three Hierarchs” Church in Iaşi, the “Dormition of the Mother of God” Church of…

May 17, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Monastic settlement founded by St Moulag discovered on Scottish island

The ruins of a 7th-century monastic settlement have been discovered on the island of Lismore in Scotland. Researchers at the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre made the announcement. The entire excavation project took around six years, with a significant delay caused by the pandemic. The discovery was part of a monastic settlement consisting of several buildings…

Apr 1, 2024Andrei Ursulean

One of the oldest iconostases in Poland was discovered in an Orthodox church

Polish researchers announced last month that they discovered one of the oldest iconostases in Poland. it was found in a church from Nowoberezowo, the district of Hajnówka, and presented in an event held in Białystok, the city where the most numerous Polish Orthodox faithful live at present. The discovery was made in the attic of…

Nov 2, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Colours of Orthodoxy – Greece: Photo contest winners announced

The winners of the “Colours of Orthodoxy – Greece” photo contest were announced on Wednesday. More than 400 photographers from 20 countries took part in the competition, submitting over 4,600 photos. Only images of churches belonging to canonical Orthodox Churches were accepted. Among the international jury members was Aurelian Iftimiu, patriarchal counsellor and Director of…

Oct 26, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Finland adds cross processions to National Living Heritage list

The Orthodox cross procession has been added to Finland’s National Living Heritage list. A “cross procession” in Finland is a religious procession organized at various important feasts throughout the year. “Hundreds of Orthodox churches and monasteries organise cross processions throughout the year, sometimes over long distances. Torches, flags, icons and the Gospel are carried in…

Oct 18, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Via Transilvanica voted the public’s favourite at European Heritage Awards 2023

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2023 was held on Thursday in Venice. The Public Choice Award went to Via Transilvanica, Romania’s longest hiking trail. Via Transilvanica is 1,400 kilometres long and connects 12 UNESCO heritage sites. It starts at Putna Monastery and ends in Drobeta Turnu‑Severin, where Apollodorus of Damascus built a…

Sep 29, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Pitești Prison classified as historical monument

The ensemble of Pitești Penitentiary, the former prison of anti-communist political prisoners, has been classified as a historical monument. The Romanian Minister of Culture, Raluca Turcan, signed an order on Wednesday. Pitesti Penitentiary was included in Romania’s List of Historical Monuments and was granted the regime of group A historical monument. Experts and specialists certified…

Jul 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo submission deadline extended for Colours of Orthodoxy contest dedicated to Greece

The photo submission deadline for the “Colours of Orthodoxy” contest has been extended until July 31. This year’s edition of the contest is dedicated to Greece. The competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers from around the world. Participation in the competition is free. Organisers reserve the right to extend the duration of…

Jul 15, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

The “Colours of Orthodoxy” photo contest promotes Greece this year

The “Colours of Orthodoxy” photo contest promotes Greece this year. The best photos will be exhibited and selected for the album “Colours of Orthodoxy. Greece”, to be published by the Polish Orthodox Church. Photo submissions are accepted until July 8, in the following categories: Places, Reportage, People, and Details. Participants are welcome to submit up…

Jun 21, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Wiki Loves Monuments 2022: Photo of small wooden church in Bessarabia named among winners

A photo showing the wooden church in the village of Gîrbova, Ocnița district, Republic of Moldova, was ranked 11th in the latest edition (2022) of the Wiki Loves Monuments international competition. From over 150,000 images registered, 337 photos were selected by the jurors of the 36 national competitions. “These are the 15 best images from…

May 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu