The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held Thursday, 24 May 2018, its working session at the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.<\/p>\n
Given the insistent request of the clergy and lay believers of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, the Holy Synod elected<\/a> by secret vote His Grace Antonie of Orhei, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Chi\u0219in\u0103u, as Bishop of B\u0103l\u021bi.<\/p>\n The Holy Synod proceeded to the election by secret vote of the V. Rev. Archimandrite Veniamin Goreanu, patriarchal adviser, as Bishop of Southern Bessarabia.<\/p>\n During the session, the Holy Synod elected the V. Rev. Archimandrite Timotei Bel as Assistant Bishop to the Diocese of Maramure\u0219 and S\u0103tmar.<\/p>\n The new assistant bishop will bear the title of His Grace Bishop Timotei of S\u0103tmar.<\/p>\n The Holy Synod approved the proposal of the Metropolitan Synod of Moldavia and Bukovina to add to the liturgical calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church the feast of the Directres Icon of the Mother of God of Neam\u021b Monastery<\/a> to be celebrated on July 9, beginning with 2019.<\/p>\n The texts of the Vespers, Matins, Synaxarion, troparion, kondakion, and the Akathist Hymn to the Holy Icon were also approved.<\/p>\n The synodal fathers approved the 2019 liturgical calendar, noting that the feast of Holy Pascha will be celebrated next year on April 28.<\/p>\n The Holy Synod reiterated the position of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the legalization of civil partnerships. A legal status would lead to the encouragement and legalization of cohabitation, as well as to the disengagement of life partners to the detriment of the children\u2019s major interest.<\/p>\n