Today, 26 January 2013, the annual session of the Eparchial Assembly of the Archdiocese of Bucharest was held in the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence of Bucharest, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, as Archbishop of Bucharest. Their Graces Assistant Bishops Ciprian Campineanul and Varlaam Ploiesteanul were also present.
The meeting was preceded by the celebration of the Te Deum service in the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, assisted by a group of priests and deacons, in the presence of the members of the Eparchial Assembly.
To start with the annual session of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel read the synthesis report on the activity of the departments of the Archdiocese of Bucharest in 2012, entitled <i><b>Missionary Continuity and Renewal</i></b>: “During the entire year 2012, the activity of the Archdiocese of Bucharest went off in several fields: administrative-pastoral, cultural – missionary and social – philanthropic, with the dynamism designed to accomplish the Church vocation in today’s society.”
During the first part of the report the most important pastoral – liturgical, economical and urbane activities of the Archdiocese of Bucharest developed last year were emphasised: “We remember some of the administrative-pastoral and patrimonial activities of the Archdiocese of Bucharest developed in 2012: setting up of 8 new parishes, consecration of 14 churches, blessing with holy water of 5 places of worship, some of them re-consecrated after consolidation, restoration or renovation works. We can also mention laying the foundation stone to 9 new churches, 32 churches being built and 101 churches being consolidated or restored, as well as 202 churches being painted or having the painting restored.”
This is why last year the Archdiocese got involved in the organisation of several events with cultural missionary character. One of the priorities of the Eparchy was supporting the “Basilica” Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate: “The Archdiocese of Bucharest continued to be the greatest financial supporter, through its Eparchial Centre, deaneries and parishes, of “Lumina” newspaper, of Trinitas Radio and Television stations. This Archdiocese is the most generous eparchy for the financial support of the construction of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation”.
To end with his speech, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked all those who helped the Archdiocese of Bucharest in its missionary work last year: “We thank God for all the activities developed for the welfare of the Church, as well as those who supported the Archdiocese of Bucharest in its missionary work, both clergy and faithful, natural persons, state central and local institutions, NGO-s and private firms. We wish them all good health, salvation, peace and joy. We pray Most Holy Trinity to help us in 2013, too, to continue to increase the missionary activity of our Archdiocese in this time of spiritual and material crisis, to strengthen our faith, hope and Christian love in the life of the Church and of our people.”
Then, the last year activity of the Eparchy was analysed and estimated. To end with, the reports of the commissions on the activity of the Archdiocese of Bucharest for 2013 were submitted for approval and the priorities for the 2013 established.
According to articles 90 – 94 of <i>the Statutes for the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church</i>, the Eparchial Assembly is the deliberative body for all the administrative, cultural, social-philanthropic, economical and patrimonial issues of the eparchy, made up of 30 representatives of the clergy and laic faithful (10 priests and 20 laic) elected for 4 years time.
