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.
By the initiative of the Publish house “Neputns” two books have come out on Iconography, its history and meaning: “History of the Icon painting: 6th – 20th centuries)” and “Icon: from the Ancciet Rus to Latvia”. These are really unique publications, the first in Latvian language in academic setting. The world of icons is like vast universe attracting special; attention by those who know the art and researchers as being spiritually profound and rich in history. Staff of the Academy also took part in preparation of the publication: Juris Jefuni, Evija Rudzīte and Guntis Dišlers.
Students and teachers of European Christian Academy visited Žanis Lipke Memorial in January 23, 2024. Žanis (Jan) Lipke is well-known “Righteous Among the Nations”. The forty survivors who were rescued by Jan Lipke and his wife, Johana, constituted one fifth of an estimated total of 200 Jews that survived on Latvian soil. Visit was organized […]
Rector of European Christian Academy prof. Skaidrite Gūtmane has received Letter of the Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, in December 8, 2023. The Letter is an exclusive sign of appreciation after 30 years of both research and educational work carried out at the Academy since 1993, especially in the […]
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
