Wednesday, 27 May 2015, the working session of the spring semestral Pastoral Missionary Conference of the Archdiocese of Bucharest began in the great room of the Children’s National Palace of Bucharest, under the title: “2015 – Solemn Year of the Parish and Monastery Mission Today”. The Conference was chaired by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The Divine Liturgy and Te Deum to start with the session
The spring priests’ Conference of Bucharest began at the Metropolitan Cathedral of “Saint Spiridon” the New. Both the Divine Liturgy and the Te Deum were celebrated by His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanu, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, delegated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
The answers at the pew were given by the chorus of the deanery of North Ilfov.
Clergy of Bucharest and Ilfov county on Pastoral Missionary Conference
Over 800 clergy of the six deaneries of Bucharest and of the two deaneries of Ilfov county attended the conference: priests of charity (from hospitals, social and militaries institutions, and prisons) of Bucharest and of Ilfov county, clergy employees of the Eparchial Centre, clergy teaching staff of the high and seminarian education of Bucharest and Ilfov county, Rt Rev Exarch, Abbots and Abbesses of the monasteries of Bucharest and of Ilfov county.
To start with the event, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church delivered the lecture entitled “Let us bring light and joy in a world confuse and sad – Mission of the parish and monastery today”, of which we render a fragment below.
“The mission of today’s parish and monastic communities is based on the light of the Gospel of Christ in the souls of those who believe in Him and love Him. We preach the saving word of God which can soften the heart hardened by sin, and make it merciful and generous, as the prophets predicted the work of the Holy Spirit in the human’s soul: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27).” Therefore, we understand that the specific feature of the church mission does not consist in doing a pure human individual work, but in the common work of man with God, in the deifying work, bringing peace and joy, communion and salvation. The contemporary secularisation induced or imposed, which affects both the public space and the way of European individual life, can be counteracted if the parish and monastery mission is focused both on a deep spiritual life and on a pastoral and social action rooted in the complex realities of the time we live in”, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania said.
Working session of the priests’ conference in Bucharest
Several lectures were delivered during the conference.
Rev. Lecturer Dr David Pestroiu from “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology delivered the lecture entitled “Parish-School Partnership Today” in which he emphasised the importance of the collaboration between Church and school, priests and professors.
The second lecture, entitled “Role of the catechesis in the Church mission in the multi-confessional and multi-religious context today” delivered by Rev. Lecturer Radu Muresan from “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology emphasised the fruits of the parish catechesis and need to diversify the categories it is addressed to.
Rev Patriarchal Counsellor Ionut Viorel Iordachescu delivered the lecture entitled “Social philanthropic mission of the parish in the present context”, in which he emphasised the exaggeration on the social mission of the Church, and the importance of mercy.
Rev. Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, exarch of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti and abbot of Putna Monastery delivered the lecture “Monasteries’ Mission Today” in which he spoke about the need of communion between monks and laics for salvation.
The last lecture was delivered by Lecturer Dr Adrian Lemeni from “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Bucharest, who emphasised the role of the laics in the parish mission.
To end with the conference, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presented three new publications: “Senses and importance of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Confession and Eucharist in the Orthodox contemporary theology, spirituality and mission”, “Images of Light. Famous monks from the past of the Archdiocese of Bucharest”, as well as the most beautiful quotations of Saint John Chrysostom on the Christian family.
All those present received the new publications on behalf of the Patriarch of Romania.
The Conference closed with the presentation of a documentary both on Putna Monastery and on the monastic personalities in the life of this settlement.
