PATRIARCH OF ROMANIA ABOUT THE HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL: “WE HAVE TO EXPRESS UNITY, BUT ALSO CO-RESPONSIBILITY”

 basilica.ro

In the opening of the works of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, referred to the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church that will convene in Crete this June

. His Beatitude urged all faithful, clergy, monastics and lay people to pray, in a universal (Synodal) spirit, for the good development of the Holy and Great Council.

The Patriarch of Romania offered an answer to those who argue against the participation of a limited number of persons in the Holy and Great Council, saying that “Not everyone can participate, but everyone has the responsibility to contribute, to advise and to pray so that the Holy Spirit, and not a worldly spirit, will guide the works of the future Pan-Orthodox Council”.

As stated in January 2016, in the opening of the works of the Synaxis of the Primates of Orthodox Churches in Chambésy, the Romanian Patriarch stressed out the Synodal (conciliar) character of Orthodoxy, which has to be manifested both at local, and at universal (Pan-Orthodox) levels.

We have to be very responsible, because the unity of faith is very important to us.
When we gather in Synod, we have to express the one and holy faith, the unity of the One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church, in order to reflect the faith of the entire Church.
That is why, the parish and monastery clergy, the faithful and monastics are asked to pray, to come together in a Synodal spirit, because the consensus of the Church within a Council, and in her fullness, represents the expression of unity or communion of faith.
Not everyone can participate, but everyone has the responsibility to contribute, to advise and, especially, to pray so that the Holy Spirit, and not a worldly spirit, will guide the works of the future Pan-Orthodox Council.
We have a moral duty to witness together not just at home, but also at Pan-Orthodox level, the unity of faith in the Church.
The greatest gift of greatest price of the spiritual life of the Church is the unity of faith, which is expressed in sacramental unity, but also in the missionary and pastoral ministry of the Church carried out today in the world.
We have to express unity, but also co-responsibility.
Orthodoxy is synodal (conciliar), both at local, national, and at Pan-Orthodox levels. The Synod (Council) is always the institution with the greatest responsibility for keeping true faith, true experience in Christ and the pastoral organization at all levels.