The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church convened on Tuesday at the Patriarchal Palace, under the presidency of Patriarch Daniel. The meeting focused primarily on preparations for the upcoming Commemorative Year 2026, which includes the canonization of sixteen holy Romanian women, as well as the establishment of a synaxis (assembly) honoring Romanian Athonite saints.
“At the agenda are current issues, but also something very special: the approval of the canonization of sixteen holy women from our nation, initially proposed by the dioceses and subsequently discussed in metropolitan synods,” announced Patriarch Daniel at the opening of the session.
The Synod emphasized the importance of completing liturgical texts for these saints. “For all sixteen proposed saints, we already have at least the synaxarion, troparion, and kontakion. Over the coming months, before the next Synod session, we will prepare the liturgical texts for Vespers, Litia, Matins, the Divine Liturgy, and the Akathists of these holy women,” the Patriarch explained.
Commemorative Year 2026
Patriarch Daniel underlined the significance of highlighting the virtue of these Romanian women through liturgical texts. This emphasis aligns with the Commemorative Year’s themes: the pastoral care of the Christian family and the commemoration of holy women in the calendar — including myrrh-bearing women, martyrs, monastics, wives, and mothers.
“In a time filled with confusing and strange ideologies, we must affirm the sanctity of the family and show the importance of testimonies from the universal Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church,” stressed the Patriarch.
Additionally, an icon representing next year’s commemorative theme — the holy men and women of the family of Saint Basil the Great — has been commissioned. Eight members of this spiritual family are already listed in the liturgical calendar.
Sunday of the Athonite Saints
Patriarch Daniel also highlighted the initiative to institute a memorial day for the holy Athonite ascetics, which includes many Romanian monks and hierarchs. This day, named the Sunday of the Athonite Saints, will be celebrated on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
“We still need to approve the celebration of the Sunday of the Holy Athonite Saints, which will be the third Sunday after Pentecost,” the Patriarch noted, indicating that the icon of these saints is already displayed in the “Teoctist Patriarch” Great Hall of the Patriarchal Palace.
The Patriarch clarified that Romanian Athonite saints include not only those to be proclaimed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in July but also Romanian hierarchs who spent time on Mount Athos before or after their ordination. Among them are Saint Joseph the New of Partoș, Saint Gregory the Teacher, Saint Calinic of Cernica, as well as recently canonized saints such as Arsenie of Prislop and Seraphim the Patient of Sâmbăta de Sus.
“There is great attention in our agenda for the year 2026 regarding both the holy Romanian women and the synaxis of the Athonite saints,” concluded Patriarch Daniel.
Source: Basilica.ro
