The Metropolitan Synod at the Patriarchal Residence
On 20 May 2013, the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolitanate of Muntenia and Dobrudgea met at the Patriarchal Residence of Bucharest under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Daniel, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea, Locum Tenens of the throne of Caesarea of Cappadocchia and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
To start with the proceedings, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel referred to the daily agenda of the Metropolitan Synod and said: “This Metropolitan Synod is related to the historical dedication day of the Patriarchal Cathedral because tomorrow we celebrate the Saints Emperors just like the Apostles, Constantine and Helen and we shall have the opportunity to attend the prize awarding ceremony of the winners of four national contests. The daily agenda includes current issues that are, in general, up to the competence of the Metropolitan Synod, but we do wish to start preparing for the year 2014, the commemorative year of the Saints Martyrs Brancoveans, namely to see what pilgrimages can be organised to the foundations of Saint Constantine Brancoveanu in the eparchies of the Metropolitanate, as well as to draft some albums and issue a commemorative medal for 2014 which is the solemn year of the Holy Confession and Holy Eucharist, as well as the commemorative year of the Saints Martyrs Brancoveans.
Besides the Patriarch of Romania, the present members of the Metropolitan Synod are the following: His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Grace Vincentiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Calarasi, His Grace Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman, His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea, and His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The Metropolitan, archbishops, bishops, as well as the assistant bishops and vicar hierarchs of the suffragan eparchies make up the Metropolitan Synod.