Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church convened – Key decisions were made

On Thursday, 27 March 2025, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church convened its working session in the “Teoctist Patriarch” Aula Magna at the Patriarchal Palace, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania.

The session opened with a Doxology service celebrated by His Grace Bishop Nectarie of Bogdania, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chișinău. The service marked the beginning of the Synod’s proceedings and commemorated the 107th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania (March 27, 1918). At the conclusion of the service, the memory of the Bessarabian architects of the Great Union was honored.

During the meeting, the Holy Synod adopted several important decisions:

It was officially announced that the Consecration of the Holy Chrism (Great and Holy Myrrh) will take place on Holy Thursday, 17 April 2025, in Bucharest, with the participation of all the hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The Synod elected a new Bishop of the Diocese of Sălaj. Two candidates were proposed by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj:

His Grace Benedict of Bistrița, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj and university lecturer at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Cluj-Napoca.

Archimandrite Samuel Cristea, professor and spiritual father at the “Metropolitan Nicolae Colan” Orthodox College in Cluj-Napoca. Following a secret ballot, the Holy Synod elected Bishop Benedict of Bistrița as the new Bishop of Sălaj.

The Synod acknowledged with hope and blessing the desire expressed by several Romanian Orthodox communities in Ukraine to return under the spiritual care of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

It approved the Statute and diocesan emblem of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Synod also approved the initiation of canonisation procedures for several Romanian Orthodox women saints, as part of the observances for the year 2026, which has been designated by the Holy Synod as the Commemorative Year of Holy Women (Myrrh-bearers, Martyrs, Ascetics, Wives, and Mothers) and the Pastoral Year of the Christian Family.

Source and photo: Basilica.ro