{"id":546982,"date":"2025-10-30T12:32:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T10:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=546982"},"modified":"2025-10-30T12:32:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T10:32:51","slug":"holy-synod-ecumenical-patriarch-romania-orthodox-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/holy-synod-ecumenical-patriarch-romania-orthodox-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"At Holy Synod session, Ecumenical Patriarch calls on Romanian Church to foster Orthodox unity"},"content":{"rendered":"

During a solemn Holy Synod session on Tuesday marking the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years of autocephaly, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I urged the Romanian Orthodox Church to continue working for the unity of the Orthodox world. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Addressing the gathering in Bucharest, His Holiness praised the \u201cclose, fraternal, and enduring ties\u201d between the Church of Constantinople and the Romanian Patriarchate, emphasising that the Ecumenical See has always viewed its role as one of service rather than privilege. The event highlighted the historic spiritual partnership and shared responsibility among Orthodox Churches.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur exhortation to the Holy Romanian Orthodox Church is that it may always continue to contribute to and uphold these good relations, and to work for the unity of the Orthodox world,\u201d the Ecumenical Patriarch urged.<\/p>\n

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople attended the solemn session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Mircea Florescu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cNever has the Church of Constantinople understood its position as one of greater rights, but only as one of service to those smaller,\u201d said His Holiness Bartholomew I.<\/p>\n

\u201cThus, whenever it was observed that the proper conditions had been created for the good order of ecclesiastical provinces, the Mother Church gladly made use of the opportunities available to grant them freedom in their internal life, rejoicing \u2014 as a mother does \u2014 in the maturity and progress of her children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I expressed his appreciation for his visit to Romania \u2014 his 12th as Ecumenical Patriarch, and 14th overall, including those made during his tenure as Metropolitan of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis five-day visit and our face-to-face meeting will surely contribute to strengthening and achieving even more harmonious relations between the two Churches,\u201d His Holiness noted.<\/p>\n

Autocephaly and Spiritual Communion<\/h2>\n
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Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Mircea Florescu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe are grateful that His Holiness has honoured us with His presence and cooperation \u2014 with this synergy, this collaboration between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Romanian Patriarchate at a moment of great solemnity: the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the 140th anniversary of the Romanian Orthodox Church\u2019s autocephaly,\u201d said the Patriarch of Romania.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thank His Holiness as well for showing particular care in calling all the Sister Orthodox Churches to unity and communion, and for reminding us that autocephaly does not mean self-sufficiency or isolation, but cooperation and spiritual communion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, we wish to thank His Holiness for the way in which He cares for the Romanian Orthodox faithful in Turkey \u2014 in Constantinople and other parts of the country,\u201d His Beatitude added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great encouragement for the Romanian Orthodox in Constantinople, where His Holiness has provided a place of worship for the Romanian community in Istanbul \u2014 the historic Orthodox church of Saint Paraskevi and Saint Constantine Br\u00e2ncoveanu the Martyr Prince.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unbroken Ties<\/h2>\n
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The solemn session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place in the Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest on Oct. 28, 2025. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Mircea Florescu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel noted that cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Romanian Patriarchate has continued even during difficult times, such as when Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras welcomed Patriarch Justinian on Mount Athos and invited him to send Romanian monks to revive Athonite monastic communities, despite the fact that Romania was then under an atheist communist regime.<\/p>\n

The Patriarch of Romania also expressed, once again, special gratitude for the canonisation of four Romanian Athonite Elders: Dionysius of Colciu (of Vatopedi Monastery), Petronius T\u0103nase, Niphon and Nectarios of Prodromos Skete.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout Your Holiness, this great work for the Romanian hesychast saints of Mount Athos could not have been accomplished,\u201d said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.<\/p>\n

Anniversary Volumes<\/h2>\n
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Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti, general secretary of the Holy Synod, celebrated his 65th birthday. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Mircea Florescu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop and Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, presented three anniversary volumes published by the Publishing Houses of the Romanian Patriarchate to mark the 2025 Commemorative Year \u2014 the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate:<\/p>\n