Speech of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, addressed on the occasion of the opening of Social Diakonia Consultation, organised by the World Council of Churches, Palace of the Patriarchate, Bucharest, 18-20 May 2009:

THE LOVE OF CHRIST SHARED WITH PEOPLE THROUGH THE DIAKONIA OF HIS CHURCH

Distinguished participants in the Consultation of
the World Council of Churches concerning the social Diakonia,

First of all, we address to you a warm “Welcome” here, in Romania, in the Palace of the Romanian Patriarchate! Your presence here – members of the staff of the World Council of Churches and representatives of various member Churches of the World Council from all continents, experts or workers in social diakonia – is both a happy and encouraging event.

The World Council of Churches, in its history of more than sixty years, encouraged, sustained and assisted the diaconal activity of its member Churches. This activity achieved in common or individually is the concrete proof of the will of those who believe in Jesus Christ to implement His commandment to love and help other human beings. While working together in order to help the people in need, affected by loneliness and distress, the Churches complete the prayer and the theological-ecumenical dialogue with practical action of social diakonia, appreciated both by their beneficiaries and by society, in general.

We hope that the present meeting held at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest will be a special occasion for dialogue, exchange of experience and working out of some common strategies concerning the social activity of the Churches.

The Romanian Orthodox Church learned from the Gospel, from the Orthodox Tradition and from the experience of other Churches how to cultivate the social dimension of faith and of Christian love. In the history of Romania, the health system and that of social assistance of the Romanian State developed in cooperation with the social-charitable activity of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Yet, during the period of the communist regime, the Romanian Orthodox Church – as well as the other Churches of Romania – was not allowed to develop the traditional diaconal or social-philanthropic activity. But, after Romania returned to a democratic system, beginning with 22 December 1989 onward, the Romanian Orthodox Church has worked hard to rebuild its diaconal or social-philanthropic system, succeeding in achieving multiple positive results.

Thus, at present, 345 social-philanthropic establishments function within the Romanian Patriarchate, out of which: 109 establishments for children, 51 establishments for old people, 106 social canteens and bakeries, 23 medical consulting rooms and 2 social pharmacies, 11 centres for diagnosis and medical treatment for people with special needs, 33 centres of counselling, 1 centre for the victims of human trafficking and 19 centres for assisting the families in need.

More than 400,000 persons benefit from social services and social programmes in the dioceses of the Romanian Patriarchate: children from social centres of the Church or of the State, but especially poor families with no financial possibilities of sustaining themselves; disabled people, with deficiencies of speaking, sight and hearing; drug addicts or other kinds of addicts; persons infected with HIV/AIDS; victims of human trafficking and delinquents; old people from the centres of Church social protection, from the social centres of transit and from night shelters, lonely people, who cannot be transported and abandoned by families, with serious health problems; poor families, with no material means or shelter, young people, students, unemployed, convicted persons who were released or flood victims or of other natural disasters.

On 24 July 2008, the Romanian Patriarchate and the Ministry for Public Health signed the Protocol of Cooperation concerning the Partnership in the Field of Medical and Spiritual Assistance. In order to develop and extend the social-philanthropic activity, in cooperation with several dioceses, the Philanthropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate was set up, which, together with the Social-Philanthropic Department of the Patriarchal Administration, worked out various social programmes to be financed from European funds.

Many priests of the Romanian Patriarchate provide liturgical and pastoral assistance in military units, in prisons, in hospitals and centres of social protection all over the country. Yet, as the needs are multiple, this activity must be intensified and extended.

To end with, we wish you every success in your efforts to make the Churches more sensitive to the need to intensify the social diakonia, especially today, when the economical crisis causes much poverty and human suffering, since the Churches must bring joy and hope wherever there is sadness and incertitude.




† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church