The hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church came together for the first working session of the Holy Synod on Thursday, after asking for God’s help and inspiration during a Te Deum service officiated at St George chapel of the Patriarchal Residence by Bishop Andrei of Covasna and Harghita.
Gathered under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the synodal fathers will review the Church’s activity in 2018 and set proposals for this year, which was declared a Solemn Year of the Romanian Village and a Commemorative Year of Patriarchs Nicodim Munteanu and Iustin Moisescu, and of the translators of church books.
An important issue that will be talked through by the Romanian hierarchs will be the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine.
In his opening remarks, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the tensions existing in Ukraine and pointed to the causes that have led to the current situation.
His Beatitude pointed out that there are currently 127 Romanian Orthodox parishes in Ukraine, and that the Holy Synod should consider their pastoral care.
‘When we express our opinion on the situation in Ukraine, let us pay close attention to what our communities living there say,’ Patriarch Daniel said Feb. 21.
Other topics include the social-philanthropic work of the Church, as well as its educational efforts.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
Published by Aurelian Iftimiu