Proclamation of the year 2023 in the Romanian Patriarchate as the Homage Year of Pastoral Care for the Elderly and the Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters (Psalters).

(Patriarchal Cathedral, Sunday, January 1, 2023)

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in its working session of December 16, 2021, examined the report of the Chancellery of the Holy Synod regarding the declaration of the year 2023 in the Romanian Patriarchate as the Homage Year of Pastoral Care for Elderly and the Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters (psalts).

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod formulated this proposal, which has as its main motivation the desire to pay more attention to pastoral care and support for the elderly in the current context of a society marked by individualism and secularization.

Thus, it is proposed to encourage the participation of the elderly in the life of the Church, a more consistent contribution of the family, the Church and society in support of the elderly, as well as an intensification of the social-philanthropic and cultural activities dedicated to this social category.

For the commemorative year, the motivation is given by the desire to honor the authors and performers of Church music, as eloquent examples of the cultivation of Church music, which supports prayer and intensifies the liturgical life of Church communities.

According to the framework program (liturgical, cultural and media),

1. In the first semester of 2023, it will be treated the theme: "Homage Year of the Pastoral Care for the elderly", which will be presented as follows:
2. Forms of pastoral care and support for the elderly in Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition;
3. Principles and methods regarding the pastoral care of the elderly in the life of the Church;
4. The parish, the family and the elderly, today: communion and collaboration;
5. Current realities and challenges regarding pastoral care and supporting the elderly;
6. In the second semester of 2023, it will be dealt with the theme: "The Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters (psalts)", which will be presented as follows:
7. About religious chanting in the Holy Scripture;
8. The meaning of liturgical chanting according to the Holy Orthodox Tradition. Names and faces of Christian hymnographers;
9. The importance of psaltic music in the worship and mission of the Romanian Orthodox Church;
10. Romanian composers and psalts who contributed to the Romanianization and development of liturgical psaltic music.

Following the plenary discussions, at the proposal of the Pastoral, Monastic and Social Commission, the Holy Synod decided:

1. approves the declaration of the year 2023, in the Romanian Patriarchate, as the "Homage Year of the Pastoral Care for the Elderly" and the "Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters (Psalters)";
2. approves the framework program (theological-educational, cultural and media) entitled "2023 - The Homage Year of the Pastoral Care for the elderly and the Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters (psalts)".

President of the Holy Synod

† Daniel

Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church