“Sfântul Ioan Damaschin” Group of the Academy of Byzantine Arts and Studies

“Sfântul Ioan Damaschin” group from Cluj - Napoca relies on the enthusiasm of some young people passionate about fine arts who, at that time, were students at “Ion Andreescu” Academy from the same city. While studying the art of iconography, they came to discover the beauty of the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire.

Since 2004, under the coordination of Lect. Sorin Albu, PhD, the work and effort to research this field, which is divided into different branches such as philosophy, rhetoric, music, iconography, has been made known to others through numerous symposia, workshops and cultural events. The most important event of this kind, which takes place every year, is the national international symposium “Byzantine Art Days”. It brings together specialists in the field from all over the world, and from the very beginning it has aimed to play a leading role in reviving the iconographic and musical tradition in Transylvania and beyond. We could also mention the cultural event “Nicolae Steinhardt Days” (2001 - 2013, Rohița Monastery, Maramureș County), the Byzantine art exhibition “Mozaikon” (annual exhibition, 2018 - present, National Union Museum, Alba-Iulia), as well as numerous other concerts and cultural events, both in Romania and abroad.

Over the years, among the main collaborators of “Sf. Ioan Damaschin” Group have been Prof. Vasile Vasile, Protopsaltes Vasilios Nonis (Athens), Prof. Protopsaltes Grigorios Stathis, PhD, Prof. Protopsaltes Achileas Chaldeakis, PhD, Prof. Protopsaltes Grigorios Anastasiou and Prof. Giorgos Kordis. They have actively participated in the work of the group through the yearly masterclasses and workshops that they have held in Cluj and not only.

Currently, “Sfântul Ioan Damaschin” Psaltic Choir counts about 25 active members, both male and women psaltes. The choir has a dynamic participation in numerous Orthodox Church services, concerts, symposia and cultural activities, actively supporting the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj in reviving the liturgical art in the region.

Lecturer Protopsaltes Sorin Albu, PhD (conductor)

Lecturer Protopsaltes Sorin Albu, PhD, was born in 1977, in Ocna-Mureș, Alba County, where he attended the Arts High School in Deva. He is a “magna cum laude” graduate of “Ion Andreescu” Academy of Arts in Cluj-Napoca, currently the University of Arts and Design, where he has been teaching since 2004. In 2018 he become a non-tenured member of the teaching staff of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Alba-Iulia where, with God's grace, he founded and has been coordinating the Art - Mosaic section of the faculty. He stands out through his rich artistic activity, both in the University and, by the mercy of God, as “didaskalos” (teacher) for the young generations of disciples trained over time both in the art of psaltic chant and especially in the art of iconography.

Since his student years, Mr. Sorin has shown an interest in what later became his way of life: the art of iconography and the art of psaltic chant. In 2004, he founded “Sfântul Ioan Damaschin” Group in Cluj-Napoca, which brings together researchers and enthusiasts in the art of iconography and Byzantine chant. As a result of the enthusiasm that Christ has instilled in our hearts, this initiative has been followed by numerous national and international exhibitions and symposia, workshops and masterclasses on music and authentic Byzantine iconography, which will remain in the memory of the participants as moments of a return to ages when time did not matter and space was the mirror of eternity. Here are some of these cultural events: “Byzantine Art Days” (annual symposium; held since 2004, in Cluj – Napoca, with international participation); Nicolae Steinhardt Cultural Days (held between 2001 - 2013, in Rohița Monastery, Maramureș County); “Mozaikon” Exhibition (annual exhibition, since 2018, National Union Museum in Alba - Iulia). Also, the friendly and collaborative relationships that have been established over the years between Lecturer Sorin Albu, PhD, and personalities such as Professor Protopsaltes Vasilios Nonis, PhD, from Athens, Professor Protopsaltes Grigorios Stathis, PhD, Professor Georgos Kordis, Lecturer Grigorios Anastasiou, PhD, have borne fruit both in the souls and lives of the participants of their conferences and concerts, and as documents that will remain in the history of the world. One example is the book titled Materials and Representation Techniques in Contemporary Iconographic Art by Sorin Albu, published by Vremi Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, in 2012.