Searching for God

Religious denominations in Romania

Remus Țiplea

Remus Țiplea spent the last seven years documenting the spiritual lives and rituals of the largest religious groups in northwestern Romania (Orthodox, Catholic, Pentecostal, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Seventh-Day Adventists).

This large-scale documentary endeavor was especially challenging for the artist. In the beginning he faced rejection and mistrust from members of these various communities. For example, at one of the first meetings he was required to shave off his beard in order to be allowed to further interact with the group. Once he gained their trust, Țiplea got privileged “behind-the-scenes” access, managing to observe the subtler, more hidden aspects of these religions. The photographer succeeded in capturing the main themes and common rites, such as baptisms, weddings, funerals, pilgrimages, the construction of places of worship, Sunday services, and the celebration of holidays, focusing on what unites religions, and not on what separates them.