The Torch of Heritage, at the Romanian Athenaeum, in the year of the Great Union Centenary | Press Release

The Torch of Religious Heritage, a project organised in Romania by the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, through the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training, was hosted on Friday, the 28th of September, at the Romanian Athenaeum, in the presence of George Ivașcu, Minister of Culture and National Identity.

“Today, everyone present here has in their hands a letter for the future. Today, our old culture is no longer grounded on faith only, but also on our common European future. Before being a political or economic achievement, the future Union is first of all a cultural building site and a test of faith for each of our souls. I see a good omen in the fact that we are setting  out on this path from Bucharest, in the anniversary year of the Great Union of all Romanians”, stated George Ivașcu, Minister of Culture and National Identity.

The ceremony of the Torch, inspired by the Olympic Torch of Athens, is an initiative developed all over Europe and it aims at knowing, understanding and preserving the European religious heritage, which finds one of its most uplifting expressions in Romania. Over time, ministers of culture from the EU member-states have been invited to participate in this event, alongside prominent members of the international community (artists, scientists, politicians, researchers).

The ceremony also included an artistic moment performed by the Violoncellissimo ensemble, created and conducted by professor and violoncellist Marin Cazacu, and the guests shared personal memories related to the religious heritage, thus enriching the impressive collection of letters that will be presented by Mr. Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, within the FRH Conference, which will take place in Paris, in October this year.

The event was held within the ENCATC 2018 Congress, the most important congress of cultural management and policies, for the first time held in Bucharest and co-organised by the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training. The partner of the Torch  of the Religious Heritage was the National Heritage Institute.

The ENCATC Congress and Ceremony of the Torch are part of the list of manifestations dedicated to the Centenary of the Great Union.  Moreover, this year’s edition of the Congress was held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, H.E. Klaus Werner Iohannis, thus being included in the list of reference events that have taken place this year.

The Ceremony of the Torch was held in the presence of cultural and religious personalities, among whom we mention:

Mr. George IVAȘCU, Minister of Culture and National Identity
Mrs. Lilian GROOTSWAGERS, Member of the FRH (Future for Religious Heritage) Council
Mrs. Francesca IMPERIALE, President of the ENCATC network
Mrs. Giannalia COGLIANDRO BEYENS, Secretary General of ENCATC
Father Florin ȘERBĂNESCU, Advisor to the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Mr. Iusuf MUURAT, Mufti of the Muslim Cult in Romania
Mr. Aurel VAINER, President of Hebrew Communities Federation of Romania
Mr. Nigel BELINGHAM, Director of the British Council
Mr. Virgil NIȚULESCU, Director of the National Network of Romanian Museums
Pastor Andrei PINTA, Evangelical Church of Sibiu
His Excellency Bishop-Vicar GYERÖ David, Unitarian Hungarian Church

The hosts of the event were:
Mrs.Carmen CROITORU, General Manager of the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training (INCFC)
Mr. Ștefan BÂLICI, General Manager of the National Heritage Institute