Working Session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Press Release

On June 20-21 of this year, at the Patriarchal Residence, the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place, His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist presiding.  Among the decisions adopted we mention the following:

• the validation of the election of the Very Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Siluan Mănuilă by the Ecclesiastical Electoral College of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Hungary, to the post of Bishop of that Eparchy;
• the validation of the decision of the Metropolitan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western Europe regarding the creation of a Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in Italy;
• the approval of the creation of the federation of Church associations and foundations which carry out social-philanthropic activities, under the name “Federaţia Filantropia” (Philanthropy Federation).

The Holy Synod approved in principle the proposal of the Cluj Archdiocese by which the Martyr Atanasie Tudoran of Năsăud Country be included in the ranks of the Saints, to be commemorated on November 12.  The Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Romanian Saints will finalize the documentation required for the proclamation of canonization.  Also approved were the Akathist, Vespers and Matins services, and the Holy Synod’s Tomos for the proclamation of the canonization of the Holy Hierarch Varlaam, Metropolitan of Moldova (commemorated on August 30), as well as the Akathist of the Holy Hierarch Nifon, Patriarch of Constantinople (August 11).

The Holy Synod also evaluated the work which has been accomplished up until now by the Special Commission for the Revision and Amending of the Statutes for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as the progress of preparations for the third European Ecumenical Assembly, which will take place in Sibiu (September 4-9, 2007).

On the agenda were also subjects relating to pastoral-missionary ministry and the social mission of the Church, theological education, the participation of members of the Holy Synod and other Romanian Orthodox theologians at international Orthodox and ecumenical gatherings, as well as various activities of Romanian Orthodox communities abroad, with appreciation expressed for the pastoral-missionary ministry carried out by Romanian Orthodox hierarchs in foreign lands.

THE PRESS BUREAU OF THE ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE