Spiritual life

Spiritual life at European Christian academy is featured by:

  • Morning devotions at the Chapel at 9.40 AM,
  • Evening devotions at the Chapel at 18.00 PM,
  • Recollections on various topics of spiritual growth meeting students’ interests – every semester,
  • Meetings and discussions with clergy of traditional Christian Churches about the role of the Church in the life of society,
  • Theoretical seminar “Anthropology of hesychasm” in the last Thursday of each month (for both students and teachers),
  • Visits to Orthodox monasteries and holy places (to Crete, Estonia etc.).

On April 17, 2023, ECA lecturer Juris Jefuni delivered a lecture “The Emergence of a New Theological Agenda in Orthodoxy against the Background of the War in Ukraine”. The lecture was held on April 17th, 2023. Event was organized and was received with great interest by the students and public audience and became evident from the lively discussion that followed.

ECA Bible art students in Olive Mount monastery

Group of students of the Bible art study programme at European Christian Academy stayed in the Orthodox Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives< September 18 – October 5, 2023. They had unique opportunity to visit monasteries in Jerusalem, to appreciates their holy relics and see unique icons.

ECA students visiting Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem

During their study visit to Israel in September – October group of students of the Bible art study programme at ECA visited Rockefeller Archeological Museum in Jerusalem, Israel. Rockefeller Archeological Museum holds the largest collection of artifacts from Biblical times and is a well-known research center. Students were given unique opportunity to see parts of […]

Gesher Theater (Israel) visiting Latvia

Commemorating 75 years of the State of Israel internationally known “Gesher Theater” from Israel visited Riga with play “Don’t Look Back” in May 30, 2023. Tour of the Gesher Theater was organized by Embassy of Israel in Latvia. The play was discussed together with teachers and students from European Christian Academy.

Rector’s meeting with Latvian Rabbi Dr. Menachem Barkakhan

On May 5, 2023, at the invitation of Rabbi Barkakhan, Prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane met with the chairman of the board of the Latvian Jewish religious congregation and association “Shamir”, the Riga Ghetto and the Latvian Holocaust Museum, Dr. Menahem Barkakhan. Issues of mutual cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

Meeting with President of Latvia

In April 20, 2023, President of Latvia met Rector of European Christian Academy prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane and visiting prof. of the Academy, DrHC George v. Durtanossky, professor in Calligraphy and Paleography (Germany, Macedonia), head of SCRIPRORIUM at ECA. Prof. Durtanossky presented to the President the hand-written Preamble of Latvian Constitution, which is an excellent peace of art.

Celebrating 75 years of Israel in Riga

75th anniversary of the State of Israel were celebrated in Riga, April 20, 2023. Ambassador of Israel HE Sharon Rappoport-Palgi in her address in both Latvian and English reminded rich historical and cultural links between Latvia and Israel, and sincerely welcomed all invited guests. Rector of European Christian Academy prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane greeted the Ambassador […]

Icon exhibition in Easter

During easter time, 2023, (April – May) an Icon exhibition was open for visitors at European Christian Academy. Icons were painted by both students and staff, visitors could oberve the icon painting (“writing”) process, take part in workshops lead by icon painter Olesya Aboliņa.

Lectures on Babylonian Talmud by prof. Haim Weiss (Ben Gurion University, Israel)

In February 13-16, 2023, Christian Academy in cooperation with Israel Embassy in Latvia, Ambassador Mrs. Sharon Rappoport-Palgi, organized lectures on Anthropologcial questions in Babylonian Talmud, the most important text of Judaism by world-famous judaist prof. Haim Weiss (Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, Israel) at Aula Minor of University of Latvia.
Lectures attracted professionals from helping professions – social workers, social pedagogues, religious scientists historians of culture, policy makers.
One week intensive course opened up possibility to discuss modern issue of human identity crisis. The discussions were held in a very welcoming atmosphere, clarified many questions of modern philosophy and history of reveleation given to Jews.
European Christian Academy has cooperation agreement with Ben-Gurion University in the Negev and Centre of Jewish Studies.
By this we sincerely thank Israel Embassy in Latvia for making this event possible!

Exhibition of Icons in Balvi Center of Sacred culture

We welcome to attend the Icon exhibition of Orthodox Icons painted by young artists, graduates from European Christian Academy. The exhibition is open in Balvi city, Center of Sacred culture, from January 30 till March 25; meeting with artists is scheduled for March 25. Iconography is rarity today, and graduates of the Academy keep the […]

Prof. I.Finkelstein (Israel) visiting the Academy

Dear guest from Rockefeller Archeological Museum (Jerusalem) – archeologist, prof. Israel Finkelstein – visited the Academy in September 5-10, 2022. Students and teachers of the Academy had unique opportunity to join his archeological team in in the Holy Land digs. Professor made interesting presentation for the Theology and Bible art study program students about the […]