This week, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church (ORC) made a number of decisions, including marking October 1 as the Day of the Elderly and including it in the Christian-Orthodox calendar under the heading of important days and dates. , writes Agerpres.

Romanian PatriarchatePhoto: Inquam Photos / George Călin

Patriarch Daniil says that a “concrete approach” to the elderly is a “priority pastoral duty.”

“In the era of paradoxically growing loneliness in an atmosphere saturated with numerous forms of current communication, a concrete, personal and compassionate approach to the elderly, vulnerable, including due to isolation, is and remains a priority pastoral duty,” the press statement reads.

The working sessions of the Holy Synod took place on Wednesday and Thursday at the residence of the Romanian Patriarchate, and among the main decisions made were:

  • Proclamation by the Romanian Patriarchate of October 1 as the Day of the Elderly to be mentioned in the Christian-Orthodox calendar under the heading of important days and dates;
  • Approval of the canonization of Saint Macarius Protopsaltus with the title of Saint Saint Macarius Protopsaltus (August 31), his registration in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, drafts of liturgical texts (synaxar, akathist and service) and his icon;
  • Approval of the proposal of the Southern Bessarabian Episcopate, approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Bessarabian Metropolis, on the start of the canonization of Protohegumen Irakli Flock (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964);
  • Approval of the standardization of the title of Saint Demetrius the New in the following form: Saint Demetrius the New, Patron Saint of Bucharest, as well as the standardization of the saint’s icon so that he is represented on all the icons kept in the Patriarchal Cathedral in his left hand and shepherd’s staff in his right hand;
  • Registration in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas of Cavasil (June 20) and approval of projects of liturgical texts (synaksar, service, akathist and chapel);
  • Registration in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church of the holy martyrs Mary and Martha, his wife and their sons Audifatiu and Avakum (July 6) and approval of draft liturgical texts (synaxar and akathist);
  • Approbation of the Akathist to the holy righteous Simeon, the God-pleaser (February 3);
  • Approval of the Akathist by Saints Varsanufius and John of Gazky (February 6);
  • Approval of the text of the service at the exhumation of the deceased in the Lord.