The Romanian Patriarchate launched today, June 16 2008, its own news agency: www.basilica.ro. The event debuted with the celebration of the Holy Liturgy by Right Rev. Ciprian of Campina, Patriarchal Vicar Bishop, at the St. Spyridon - New, Patriarchal Church in Bucharest, followed by a ceremony in the 'Europa Christiana' Hall of the Patriarchal Palace. The ceremony started with a Te Deum attended by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Subsequently, Rev. Nicolae Dascalu, director of the BASILICA News Agency, presented the new department of the BASILICA Press Center:

'The BASILICA News Agency is part of the BASILICA Press Center of the Romanian Patriarchate and aims to present, through news and documentaries, the institutions, activities and attitudes of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as those of other Churches, in contemporary challenges. The selection and aggregation of news will be made according to Christian morals and to the principles of journalistic deontology. News and information are organized in an electronic form on the basilica.ro website and they address matters of Church life in Romania and abroad, such as: the activity of the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the decisions taken by the Holy Synod, the activities of the various eparchies, monasteries and parishes, theological schools and Church associations, the dialog of the Church with society, interfaith and interreligious dialog. As part of the BASILICA Press Center, the News Agency collaborates closely with the Press Bureau, Radio TRINITAS, TRINITAS TV and Ziarul Lumina (The Light) daily, as well as all departments of the Patriarchate's Administration. Furthermore, the BASILICA News Agency will have correspondents in Romania and abroad. Information will be disseminated through the basilica.ro website, currently in Romanian and English and shortly also in French and Russian, and can be used by people and organizations freely, in professional activities, as long as the source is properly credited. The BASILICA News Agency is founded in accordance to the missionary vocation of the Church, which is to announce to the world the good news of salvation in Christ.'