GB 1-6/2015

The pastoral letter of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the Sunday of Orthodoxy in 2015 starts with the iconoclastic crisis that shook the Eastern Church and the Byzantine Empire in the VIII-IX century, and then presents the arguments for which Christians depict Jesus Christ in icons and for which they honour the icons, which are „windows to heaven”.

The pastoral letters presents the message of the diocesan bishops of Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrogea: † DANIEL, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, † Nifon, Archbishop of Târgovişte, † Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis,† Calinic, Archbishop of Argeş and Muscel,† Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzău and Vrancea, † Casian, Archbishop of Dunărea de Jos,† Vincențiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Călăraşi, † Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman, † Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, † Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea

The pastoral letter sent to all parishes and monasteries of the Romanian Patriarchate, regarding the meanings of The Homage Year of the Parish and Monastery Mission Today and the Commemorative Year of St. John Chrysostom and the great Guides of Souls from the Dioceses. The cooperation between the parish and the school, between the priest and the teachers, especially the religion teacher, is a key factor for the success of the mission of both institutions. St. John Chrysostom is a shining figure in the history of the Church, an example worthy of being followed by Christians of all times.

Address delivered on January 1, 2015 in the Patriarchal Cathedral, on the proclamation of the Homage Year 2015, dedicated to the parish and monastery mission today and to St. John Chrysostom and the great guides of souls from the dioceses. The author emphasizes that in the parish where there is no church, no priest, no parish house, or the priest does not live in the community, there are more cases of alcoholism, more loneliness and less solidarity between people. Monasteries are bright landmarks for the whole society and a source of spiritual power for the Church.

 

Address at the opening of the works of the Spring Pastoral-Missionary Conference of Clergy of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, Bucharest, May 27, 2015, Great Hall of the National Children’s Palace. The author emphasizes that the mission of parish and monastic communities today is based on the light of the Gospel of Christ and the presence of Christ in the souls of those who believe in Him and love Him. The Church preaches the saving Word of God.

The missionary catechesis is one of the solutions through which the Church can return to the true faith those who, under the influence of the new religious movements that proliferated after 1990 and under an avalanche of particularly diverse information transmitted through the media channels, have moved away from the teachings of the faith. The author presents how the catechist should be and makes an analysis of those to whom the catechesis is addressed and concludes by presenting the elements of a successful catechesis, emphasizing the fundamental role of the Holy Mass in it.

The author presents some models of institutions of the Archdiocese of Bucharest that carry out social assistance activities, which represent models of good practices, shows the limits of social-philanthropic work in the parish and concludes with the perspectives considered.

In the Church also serve clergymen (deacons, priests, bishops) and lay people. Their service must be unitary and complementary. The laity have a well-defined role in the Church. The exclusion of the laity from Church service leads to excesses and slippage.

The chapter includes the Work Agenda of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and news from the dioceses of the Metropolitan Church of Muntenia and Dobrogea, from January-June 2015.