In the traditional pastoral message for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Romania reminds the faithful of the educational role of holy icons, which serve as guides leading to Christ, the Source of Holiness.
In the context of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, it is stated that: “For us, Romanians, the Sunday of Orthodoxy is an occasion of joy and thanksgiving to God for the blessings poured upon our country, as well as an expression of gratitude for the multitude of venerable and confessor saints who preserved the rule of faith as they received it from their ancestors.”
Furthermore, the Synod reminds the faithful of the collection for the Central Missionary Fund and encourages them to contribute to the support of the missionary, pastoral, and social-charitable activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Read below the Encyclical of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Romania for the Sunday of Orthodoxy 2025
To the venerable monastic order, the holy clergy, and the beloved faithful of the Romanian Patriarchate
Grace, joy, and peace from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and from us, our paternal blessing!
Revered and devout Fathers, beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
The first Sunday of the Holy and Great Lent, known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, reminds us each year of the trials and joys the Church has experienced throughout history to preserve the true faith and its unity in doctrine, canons, and worship.
In particular, this Sunday brings to our memory March 11, 843, when in Constantinople, the veneration of holy icons was fully and definitively restored, and the victory over the iconoclastic heresy was understood as a triumph of true faith over all heresies.
The Theological Controversy Over Holy Icons
The theological disputes regarding the veneration of holy icons erupted in the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717-741), who, through two imperial decrees in 726 and 730, enforced the struggle against icons as state religious policy.
The conflicts continued under Emperors Constantine V (741-775) and Leo IV (775-780), with intensified persecution against icons and the development of erroneous iconoclastic doctrines.
Christological debates over the veneration of icons led to extreme measures by the iconoclastic emperors, who not only destroyed icons but also tortured, imprisoned, exiled, and even condemned to death those who venerated them. Many clergy, monks, and believers lost their lives defending the true faith.
The Defense of Orthodoxy and the Restoration of Icon Veneration
One of the most prominent defenders of Orthodoxy during that time was Saint John of Damascus (676-749), who emphasized that veneration is directed to the person depicted and not to the material of the icon itself:
“I do not worship matter, but the Creator of matter, who, for my sake, became matter and deigned to dwell in matter, and through matter accomplished my salvation.”
The first period of persecution against icons ended during the reign of Emperor Constantine VI (780-797) and his mother, Empress Irene (752-802), who, with the support of Patriarch Tarasios of Constantinople (784-806), convened the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.
At this Council, based on Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition, the Holy Fathers condemned the iconoclastic heresy and defined the correct faith regarding the veneration of icons and holy relics.
Specifically, they decreed that the honor given to an icon passes to its prototype, and whoever venerates an icon venerates the person it represents.
The Final Victory of Orthodoxy
Despite the Church’s acceptance of this decision, the reign of Emperor Leo V the Armenian (813-820) marked a new iconoclastic period, with renewed persecution against the faithful.
This period ended in 843, when Empress Theodora (842-846) and Patriarch Methodios convened a Synod in Constantinople, which reaffirmed Orthodox doctrine regarding icon veneration and ratified the decisions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
Since then, every year, we Orthodox Christians celebrate the first Sunday of Great Lent as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, honoring the victory of the true faith over all heresies.
The Pedagogical Value of Holy Icons
The Church understands icons as guides leading to Christ, the Source of Holiness. For this reason, it gives due honor to the icons of Christ, the Theotokos, the Angels, the Apostles, and the Saints.
As theologian Leonid Ouspensky notes, Orthodox sacred art:
“Does not merely convey doctrinally formulated truths, but communicates the experiential reality of these truths—the spiritual experience of the Saints.”
Thus, an icon is not merely a decorative element but a theological testimony, a complete expression of Orthodoxy that combines teaching, experience, and prayer.
A Spiritual and Social Call
In the context of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Sunday of Orthodoxy is an occasion for thanksgiving to God for His blessings upon our country, as well as an expression of gratitude for the multitude of venerable and confessor saints who preserved the rule of faith as they received it from their ancestors.
It is also a call for unity and communion with God and our neighbor, through works of Christian charity, which are an expression of true faith.
Therefore, as every year, we urge priests and faithful to participate in the collection for the Central Missionary Fund, in order to support poor parishes, monasteries, and charitable institutions.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
With paternal wishes and blessings,
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Romania
Photo credit: Tipografia Cărților Bisericești
Source: basilica.ro
