The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered at the patriarchal residence for several times this year under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel to analyze topical issues concerning Orthodoxy in Romania and worldwide.
Here are some of the year’s most important decisions.
The Holy Synod considered the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine and recommended that, through dialogue, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate identify a solution to this ecclesiastical dispute by preserving the unity of faith, by respecting the administrative and pastoral freedom of the clergy and faithful in this country (including the right to autocephaly), and by restoring Eucharistic communion. In the event of an unsuccessful bilateral dialogue, it is necessary to convene a Synaxis of all Primates of Orthodox Churches to solve the existing problem.
The seventh edition of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth will take place in September 2020 in Timisoara.
The Holy Synod resolved to supplement the framework program for next year declared as Solemn Year of the pastoral care of parents and children and Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Philanthropists. The framework’s supplementation refers to theological, educational, cultural and media topical guidelines that will help to better highlight the 2020 solemn and commemorative themes in the activities carried out by the religious units of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Furthermore, the Synodal Fathers decided to organize events and actions marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of communism in Romania, to remember the sacrifice of Christians who sacrificed their lives in December 1989 and during the communist regime for the freedom and dignity of the Romanian people.
The Holy Synod resolved to declare the year 2021 as Solemn Year of the pastoral care of Romanians abroad and Commemorative Year of the reposed in the Lord; the liturgical and cultural value of cemeteries in the Romanian Patriarchate.
The Holy Synod took note of the proposal of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Transylvania for the canonization of Father Arsenie Boca and the documentation submitted in this regard.
The Holy Synod decided to include in a final document all the amendments made between 2008-2019 to the Statutes for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Several liturgical texts and services of the Romanian Saints were approved.
Photography courtesy of Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu
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