The Statute and Regulations Commission of the Holy Synod met on Thursday at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. Patriarch Daniel of Romania emphasised the importance and necessity of the commission’s work.
The meeting was convened to examine and submit to the Holy Synod three draft regulations: the Regulation of the Canonical Disciplinary Authorities and Ecclesiastical Courts of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Regulation of the Financial Control and Internal Audit Bodies of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the Regulation of the Church Painting Commission.
Opening the session, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the need to update Church regulations and to maintain their constant correlation with Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition.
“The working session of the Statute and Regulations Commission carries out a very important task for the life of the Church, but also one that is necessary and responsible. Every institution periodically updates its legislation and manner of expression.”
“Pastoral rules sometimes differ because historical situations differ. From this perspective, the sacred text of Holy Scripture and the writings of the Fathers concerning dogmas and canons must always be connected to the historical context in which we live,” His Beatitude added.
The salvation of believers – the essential point
The Patriarch of Romania underlined the responsibility hierarchs bear for shepherding the faithful entrusted to them.
“As hierarchs, we have a double responsibility: to remain faithful to the texts of Scripture and the Holy Fathers, and at the same time to be responsible for the historical context in which we live. This correlation is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, such updating may become a form of self-secularisation, by conforming ourselves to the age in which we live, and we would no longer be shepherds of souls for salvation, but merely employees,” Patriarch Daniel warned.
“The essential point of every pastoral understanding is one alone: the salvation of the faithful. We are not shepherds merely to sustain an institution like all the others, but to guide the clergy and faithful entrusted to us toward the Kingdom of God,” Patriarch Daniel added.
His Beatitude said that updating the regulations helps the clergy and faithful live the Orthodox faith more deeply, in light of today’s realities.
“These pastoral rules need to be better understood, and that is why we preferred that these ecclesiastical disciplinary regulations contain footnotes referring to Holy Scripture and to the Apostolic Canons, the Ecumenical Councils, the local councils, and the Holy Fathers.”
The Synodal Commission for Statute and Regulations held its working session on Thursday and Friday.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Mihnea Păduraru
