On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held a working session in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
The Holy Synod adopted a series of decisions concerning the Church’s pastoral and missionary activity, including the following:
- The draft text of the Church Calendar and Liturgical Ordinances for 2027 was approved.
- The Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs was included in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, to be commemorated on 26 October; the Synod approved liturgical texts for the feast (Synaxarion, Troparion and Kontakion).
- St Gabriel the Confessor of Georgia was included in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, to be commemorated on 2 November; the liturgical texts of the Saint’s feast day, including Synaxarion, Troparion, Kontakion and Service, were approved.
- The Synod approved draft liturgical texts for the Service, Akathist and Paraklesis of the Synaxis of the Athonite Saints (Third Sunday after Pentecost); the Service and Akathist in honour of the Craiova Icon of the Mother of God (30 August); the Service of the Family of St Basil the Great (19 July).
- The Synod approved draft Akathists dedicated to the newly canonised Romanian holy women: St Maria Brâncoveanu (16 August); St Philothea of Pasărea (12 April); St Elizabeth of Pasărea (5 June); St Mavra of Ceahlău (4 May); Saints Nazaria, Olympias and Elizabeth (Safta) Brâncoveanu of Văratec (17 August); St Olympias of Fărcașa (4 July); St Blandina of Iași (24 May); St Anastasia Șaguna (1 December); St Philotimia of Râmeț (6 July); the Synaxis of Romanian Holy Women (Third Sunday after Pascha).
- The updated text of the Regulation on Canonical Disciplinary Authorities and Ecclesiastical Courts of the Romanian Orthodox Church was approved.
- The updated text of the Regulation governing the Organisation and Functioning of the Church Painting Commission of the Romanian Patriarchate was approved.
- Established a new undergraduate programme with a double specialisation in Orthodox Didactic Theology and Romanian Language, beginning with the 2027–2028 academic year at the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Bucharest.
- Established a new master’s programme entitled “Methods and Techniques for the Interdisciplinary Approach to Addictions” in the field of Social Work, beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year at the “St Dumitru Stăniloae” Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași.
- The Synod approved the methodology for implementing, within the Romanian Orthodox Church, the provisions of Law No. 54/2026, amending and supplementing Law No. 489/2006 on Religious Freedom and the General Status of Religious Denominations.
- The Synod approved the Romanian Patriarchate’s participation in a public information campaign on expanded access to free medical services for uninsured persons through family doctors’ practices.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu