Holy Synod approves canonizations, episcopal elections, and new liturgical feast
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held its working session in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 1–2, 2025, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
The Holy Synod adopted several decisions related to pastoral and missionary activity, including:
- The canonization of 16 women of holy life (martyrs, nuns, wives of rulers, mothers of saints, and confessors), as specified in the press release issued on July 1.
- The Synod elected, by secret ballot, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Samuel Cristea, spiritual advisor of the “Metropolitan Nicolae Colan” Orthodox College in Cluj-Napoca, as Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, with the title His Grace Bishop Samuel of Bistrița.
- The Synod elected, by secret ballot, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land and Superior of the Romanian Settlements in Jerusalem, Jericho, and Jordan, as Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, with the title His Grace Bishop Teofil of Trotuș.
- The Synod approved the Church calendar for the year 2026.
- The Synod instituted a “Day of Military Clergy” to be observed on October 26.
- The Synod approved the institution of the “Sunday of the Athonite Saints”, to be celebrated on the third Sunday after Pentecost, along with the proposed troparion and kontakion texts for this feast.
- The Holy Synod approved new liturgical texts: for the service of the Holy Martyrs In, Pin, and Rim (January 20), for the completion of the service in the Menaion for Saint Philip the Apostle (November 14) and Martyr Boniface (December 19), for the troparion and kontakion of the saints from the family of Saint Basil the Great (July 19).
- The Synod approved the updated procedure for the donation, reception, and pilgrimage of holy relics within the Romanian Orthodox Church.
- The Synod approved the defrocking of the former Bishop of Huși, Corneliu Onilă, by restoring him to the status of simple monk. He is currently a penitent monastic at Bacău Penitentiary.
- The Synod approved financial support mechanisms for the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, whose projects were affected by the interruption of international funding.
- The Synod took note, with sorrow, of the continued, unjustified, and abusive refusal by Ukrainian public authorities to legally recognize the Religious Association “Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine”, despite its compliance with all current Ukrainian legal requirements. The Synod approved the continuation of support for Romanian Orthodox communities in Ukraine.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
