Metropolitan and Archbishop of Cluj Has Something to Say

Archbishop Bartolomeu of Cluj declared to BBC Romania that the published version of the new statute of the Romanian Orthodox Church has some interpolations intruded which were not discussed or debated and approved. The issue was discussed in the March 2008 Session of the Holy Synod and clarified.

Archbishop Bartolomeu become Metropolitan [a higher rank in the Romanian Orthodox Church] after a lot of presure made towards and upon the Synodals of Romania and by spliting apart the Metropolitante of Ardeal, the inheritance of Metropolitan Andrei Saguna.

The controversy and the interpolation Bishop Bartolomeu is speaking about are related to the so called "stavropighi" monasteries depending directly under the authority of the Romanian Patriarchate and of course under the administration of the Patriarch.

The paradox of Archbishop Bartolomeu thinking and reflection is revealed in the fact that he is very much in favour to split ancient and traditional administrative units of the Church, also open administrative units abroad Romania, more exactly, the Romanian Patriarchate [in his vison} can and must open new administrative units aborad but not inside traditional teritory of the Romanian Patriarchate. He very soon forgot the split of Ardeal Metropolitanate just for him to have a higher position.

Audio declaration of Metropolitan and Archbishop Bartolomeu to BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/romanian/meta/dps/2008/02/080229_bartolomeu_interviu?size=au&bgc=003399&lang=ro&nbram=1&nbwm=1

New Bishoprics and Bishops in The Romanian Orthodox Church

Bishop Visarion Răşinăreanul, vicar of Sibiu Archbishopric was elected for Tulcea with 39 votes

Bishop Petroniu Sălăjanul, vicar of Oradea Bishopric was elected Bishop of Salaj with 28 votes

Sebastian Ilfoveanul, vicar of Arhiepiscopric of Bucharest was elected Bishop of Slatina with 39 votes

Bishop Siluan Marsilianul, vicar of Orthodoxe Romanian Orthodox Metopolitante of Western and Meridional Europe was elected for the Romanian Bishopric in Italy with 39votes.

Arhimandrite Mihail Filimon was elected Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric in Australia and New Zeeland with 38 votes.

Arhimandrite Timotei Lauran was elected for the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric of Spain and Portugal with 39 de voturi.

Protosinghel Macarie Drăgoi was elected for the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric of Northern Europe with 42 votes

Metropolitan Teofan, Archbishop of Craiova, was elected Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina

Although the candidates of the Metropolitan Assemby of Moldova and Bucovina designated as favourites Bishop Casian of Galati - Lower Danube and Bishop Ioan of Covasna and Harghita after a motion introduced by Calinic Botoseneanul, the vicar of Iassy Archbishopric with the support of 500 personalities and intelectuals form Moldova, two new candidates were designateed and agreed by the Holy Synod: Calinic Botoseneanul and Teofan of Craiova.

Archbishop Teofan was elected with 39 out of 45 votes.

After this election the see of Oltenia Metroplitanate is vacant.

The Romanian Orthodox Church Has a New Statute

A renewed statute according to the new needs of the Orthodox community in Romania become efective at the beginning of March 2008 after being published in the Official Monitor of Romania.

Undertitle Freedom and Responsibility for Comunion in the Church, the new Statute is focusing especially towards the relationships between authonomy and cooperation in the Church and with the Society. The second focus is on administarting the Church inheritance, assets and economy.