His Eminence Archbishop Ioachim of Roman and Bacău urged abbots and abbesses in his archdiocese to use mobile phones and new technologies in monasteries with discernment.
His Eminence addressed the monks and nuns responsible for the archdiocese’s monastic communities during a synaxis held on Tuesday at the Diocesan Centre in Roman.
“Use these modern and very modern things in monasteries, but with discernment, like a pill, only when necessary. We live in an age of digitalisation, the chemical industry and secularisation, yet our struggle is against sin. We must discern where sin creeps in and make use of everything the modern world offers, but always with salvation in view.”
Archbishop Ioachim highlighted the communion and spiritual responsibility uniting all those who have chosen the monastic life.
“I try to regard them as my brothers, because we are on the same ladder and pursuing the same goal: salvation. If you are not seeking salvation, all your efforts are in vain,” His Eminence said.
Keeping the lamp of prayer burning
The gathering began with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Ioachim and Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotuș, together with a group of clergy, including Archimandrite Nicolae Dănilă, Exarch of the archdiocese’s monasteries and sketes, and Archimandrite Nectarie Eftime, Grand Ecclesiarch of the Archdiocesan Cathedral.
Archimandrite Nicolae Dănilă opened the proceedings, presented the main agenda items, and highlighted the work carried out by the monasteries and sketes throughout the archdiocese.
Stavrophore Teoctista Ungureanu, Abbess of Tisa Monastery, then presented a paper dedicated to the Romanian holy women canonised in 2025.
Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotuș reflected on his visits to the archdiocese’s monastic communities during the first year of his episcopal ministry.
“I was able to see that prayer is present in our monasteries, which is very important, because this is why we chose to follow the Lord: to keep the lamp of prayer burning.
“Regardless of whether a community is large or small, I have found that one can sense the fragrance of prayer in the church. Even where there are fewer monastics, they have not allowed the lamp of prayer to go out, and this gives us hope,” His Grace emphasised.
Priorities for monastic life
The meeting examined matters concerning the organisation and proper functioning of monastic communities throughout the archdiocese, reviewing activities carried out in 2026, difficulties encountered and priorities for the coming period.
Archimandrite Pimen Costea, Administrative Vicar of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, highlighted the need to reactivate monastic schools, emphasising the importance of continuing education for monks and nuns.
At the conclusion, Archimandrite Nicolae Dănilă, Exarch of the archdiocese’s monasteries and sketes, thanked the participants and encouraged them to preserve their spiritual communion by commemorating one another’s monastic communities during the Divine Liturgy.
According to figures provided by the archdiocese, the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău has 40 monastic establishments, with a total of 418 monks, nuns, novices and other members of monastic communities.
