Published by Aurelian Iftimiu, basilica.ro
During the opening session of the Holy and Great Council held
Monday, 20 June 2016, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania,
addressed a word in which he stressed out the importance of synodality
and respecting it not only at local level, but also at pan-Orthodox
level.
The holmily of His Beatitude was appreciated by the Ecumenical
Patriarch and characterised as theological.
Your Holiness,
Your Beatitudes,
Your Eminences,
Most reverend participants in this Council,
Your Beatitudes,
Your Eminences,
Most reverend participants in this Council,
The
Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Churches is at the same time a
rare event, and the beginning of normality, because synodality is a
canonical rule of the life of the local Churches, in order to express
the unity of Orthodox faith, of sacramental life and of canonical
discipline of the One, Holy, Universal (Catholic) and Apostolic Church.
If synodality is a canonical rule at local level, it must also be a rule
at universal pan-Orthodox level.
Synodality or conciliarity is
fulfilled in the sacramental concelebration of the Holy Eucharist, in
order to express both the unity of Orthodox faith and the Mystery itself
of the communion of the Church with her Head, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The
autocephaly of the Orthodox Churches express their administrative and
pastoral freedom, while the pan-Orthodox Eucharistic commemoration and
pan-Orthodox synodality (conciliarity) express the unity of the entire
Orthodoxy.
The pastoral and missionary ministry of the Church must
take into account today’s problems and challenges. Nevertheless, the
principal goal of the ministry of the Church is the sanctification and
salvation of humans, which means to acquire eternal life in the love and
light of the Kingdom of the Most Holy Trinity.
In this regard,
the Council does not have to formulate new dogmas or new sacred canons,
but rather to have an actual pastoral and missionary signification, so
as to witness Christ’s love for His Church and for the entire humanity.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and Communion. If we profess
together the true faith, then we receive the joy of communion in the
love of the Most Holy Trinity, Whom we celebrate today.
†DANIEL
Patriarch of Romania
Patriarch of Romania