The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered in Bucharest on Thursday, commencing with a Te Deum service led by Paisie Lugojanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Timișoara. The meeting, scheduled for two days, covers various topics addressed by multiple commissions.
Among the key agenda items are the canonization processes of several Romanian saints and the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Saint Demetrius the New’s relics being brought to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
The commissions meeting on Thursday are:
– Pastoral, Monastic, and Social Commission
– Theological, Liturgical, and Didactic Commission
– Canonical, Legal, and Discipline Commission
– Commission for External Communities, Inter-Orthodox, Inter-Christian, and Inter-religious Relations
Patriarch Daniel, in his opening address, stressed the importance of canonization, especially for those who suffered persecution during the communist regime in the twentieth century. He highlighted the significance of thorough preparation for canonization, including the development of synaxarion, troparion, kontakion, and icons.
“It is crucial to honor the confessors and martyrs of the communist persecution in the twentieth century,” Patriarch Daniel emphasized. He explained that an icon is not merely a visual representation with a halo but a spiritual depiction of the saint residing in the divine light of the Most Holy Trinity’s Kingdom.
Patriarch Daniel also elucidated that the term “canonization” originates from Greek and signifies not only recognizing holiness but presenting the individual as a role model and standard for the faithful.
Furthermore, Patriarch Daniel discussed the Feast of the Bringing of the Relics of Saint Demetrius the New and the pilgrimage organized with the relics across the Archdiocese of Bucharest in March and April. This event underscores the deep reverence and significance attached to the saint in the Romanian Orthodox tradition.
Source: Basilica.ro