The year 2023 was proclaimed as the “Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Elderly” and the “Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters” in the Romanian Patriarchate.

The Synodal Decree on the Proclamation of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2023 was read by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at New Year’s Day Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Synodal Decree on the Proclamation of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2023: full text

During its working session on December 16, 2021, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church examined the report of the Chancellery of the Holy Synod regarding the proclamation of the year 2023 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and a Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters in the Romanian Patriarchate.

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod formulated the proposal based on the primary need to pay more attention to the pastoral care and support of elderly persons in the current context of a society marked by individualism and secularisation.

Thus, it proposed to encourage the participation of the elderly in the life of the Church, a more consistent contribution of the family, the Church and society in support of the elderly, as well as an intensification of social-philanthropic and cultural activities dedicated to this social category.

For the commemorative year, the motivation is given by the resolution to honour the authors and performers of church music as eloquent examples of the cultivation of church music, which supports prayer and intensifies the liturgical life of ecclesiastical communities.

According to the framework programme (for liturgical, cultural and media activities):

During the first semester of the year 2023, the theme of the Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly will be addressed as follows:
- Forms of pastoral ministry and support of the elderly in the Holy Scripture and the Holy Tradition
- Principles and methods of pastoral care of the elderly in the life of the Church
- The Parish, the family and the elderly today: communion and collaboration
- Current realities and challenges regarding the pastoral care and support of the elderly
During the second semester of the year 2023, the theme of the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters will be addressed as follows:
- On religious singing in the Holy Scripture
- Significance of liturgical chanting according to the Holy Orthodox Tradition. Names and portraits of Christian hymnographers
- The importance of Byzantine music in the worship and mission of the Romanian Orthodox Church
- Romanian composers and chanters who offered Romanian specificity and contributed to the development of the liturgical Byzantine music.

Following the plenary discussions, at the proposal of the Pastoral, Monastic and Social Committee, the Holy Synod resolved:

To proclaim the year 2023 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and a Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters in the Romanian Patriarchate;
To approve the framework programme (for theological, educational, cultural and media activities) entitled “2023 – Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters.”

Chairman of the Holy Synod

† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu