Between June 18-19, 2009, at the Patriarchal Residence, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place.

Among the decisions taken, we mention:

- The proclamation of the year 2010 in the Romanian Patriarchate as 'Anniversary Year of the Orthodox Creed and of Romanian Autocephaly' in the context of the anniversary, next year, of 1685 years since the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325-2010) and of 125 years since the official recognition of the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church (1885-2010).

- The canonization of Righteous Ioanichie (Ioannikios) from Muscel, Arges county, with the feast day of July 26

- The approval of the criteria for the elevation of six dioceses to the rank of archdioceses and for the granting of the honorific title of archbishop to some bishops. Consequently, the Holy Synod approved the elevation to the rank of archdiocese of the Râmnic Diocese, Roman Diocese, Buzau and Vrancea Diocese, Arges and Muscel Diocese, Lower Danube Diocese and Arad Diocese. For outstanding episcopal activity and hierarchical ministry for the Church, Right Rev. Iustinian Chira, Bishop of Maramures and Satmar, and Right Rev. Ioan Selejean, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita, were given the honorific rank of Archbishop.

- The approval of the creation of the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara, with the seat at Deva and comprising the Hunedoara county.

- The approval of the Bylaw of the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, drafted by the Eparchial Gathering of this diocese and approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Western and Southern Europe.

- The approval of the unfolding, by the Romanian Patriarchate, of the social-educational program Choose the School with the purpose of preventing and reversing school dropouts.

- The approval of specific measures for enforcing the administrative and financial discipline in the Church at all levels, parish, monastery, protopresbyterate, diocese, metropolitanate and patriarchate, according to Church and state laws in effect.

- Following the election of Right Rev. Vincentiu as Bishop of Slobozia and Calarasi, at the proposal of His Beatitude Daniel, the Holy Synod approved the designation of Right Rev. Ciprian, Patriarchal Vicar Bishop, as secretary of the Holy Synod and of the Standing Synod, starting with July 1, 2009.

THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE