The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held this year’s last working session on Monday, December 18, at the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel chaired the meeting, during which the composition of the Permanent Holy Synod was established for the next year.
For the year 2018, the following hierarchs were appointed as members of the Permanent Holy Synod: His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși, and His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand.
The Holy Synod clarified the distinction between taxes and voluntary contributions offered by believers for the places of worship.
The taxes set by the parish council refer only to the amounts paid by believers for the concession and maintenance of burial places in cemeteries.
Voluntary contributions represent the amounts offered by believers at Holy Sacraments or Hierurgies. Their amount is set by the parish council taking into account the running costs of the parishes.
The Holy Synod reiterated the prohibition for a priest officiating the funeral service with the condition of the payment of a special fee especially by poor families. However, the parishes consider voluntary contributions necessary as a donation from families for the maintenance of the parish church building. In these cases, the priest must issue receipts to the families who donated the money.
The Holy Synod approved the establishment of Bachelor Degree Sacred Art Studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, 1 December 1918 University in Alba Iulia, starting with the academic year 2018-2019.
The Holy Synod approved new coats of arms for the following dioceses: the Archdiocese of Craiova, the Archdiocese of Tomis, the Archdiocese of Argeș and Muscel, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Hungary, the Diocese of Dacia Felix, and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada.
Furthermore, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took note with appreciation of the report of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Department for church, interreligious relations and External Church Communities regarding the participation of the delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, headed by the Romanian Patriarch, at the events organized in Moscow on 2-5 December 2017, on the centenary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Tr by Basilica.ro
© ZL
