New oxysilicates with the general formula ALa3Bi(SiO 4)3O and ALa2Bi2(SiO 4)3O [ACa, Sr and Ba] are synthesized and characterized. Powder X-ray diffraction of these silicates show that they are isostructural with BiCa4(VO4)3O which has an apatite-related structure. Eu3+ luminescence in the newly synthesized oxysilicates show broad emission lines due to disorder of cations. The relatively high intense magnetic dipole transition 5D0→ 7F1 points to a more symmetric environment. The photoluminescence results confirm that the compounds have apatite-related crystal structure. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.