Commemorative Year 2023

Archdeacon Mihail Bucă awarded patriarchal Order of the Praying Theotokos

During a ceremony at the patriarchal residence on Christmas Eve, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel bestowed the second highest distinction in the Romanian Patriarchate upon Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, protopsaltes of the Patriarchal Cathedral and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir. The Order of the Praying Theotokos (Virgin Orans) was conferred as a token of gratitude for…

Dec 30, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

“Mount Athos Nightingale” Nectarios Protopsaltes is considered for sainthood, Patriarch Daniel announces at Bucharest Archdiocese Monastic Synaxis

During his speech at the Monastic Synaxis of the Bucharest Archdiocese on Thursday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel referred to the desire to canonize Nectarios Protopsaltes, an Athonite monk of Romanian origin who was the disciple of the newly-glorified Saint Macarios Protopsaltes. Regarding the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters (psaltai), His Beatitude recalled that…

Nov 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod met in solemn session to analyze the Church activity dedicated to elderly people and church chanters

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met in a solemn session on October 26, 2023, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. The goal of the meeting was to analyze the activity of the Church related to the themes of the ongoing Solemn and Commemorative year. Year 2023 has been declared the Solemn Year…

Nov 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Children have a higher interest in studying Byzantine music: A significant benefit for Romania’s chant stands

The effort required to learn Byzantine music cultivates a student’s spiritual and cultural development. The conductor of a newly formed children’s Byzantine choir told Basilica.ro that the increasing number of children approaching the chanters at the church stand or in a structured study setting is a significant improvement. The declaration of 2023 as the Commemorative…

Oct 12, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects two hierarchs, adds new Saints to Romanian Orthodox Church calendar

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met for its working session at “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula of the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The session was chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot the Very Reverend Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu, patriarchal vicar, in the dignity of patriarchal…

Jul 6, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

He who sings prays twice: a Decalogue for Chanters by Archdeacon Mihail Buca

The founder of the Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, proposed a Decalogue for Chanters (Psaltes) in the context of the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters. We reproduce below the set of 10 rules for church chanters proposed by the Protopsaltis of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest…

Jul 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Influential hymnographer, folklorist Anton Pann’s remains reburied with honour: We owe him many church hymn books printed in Romanian

The remains of Protopsaltis Anton Pann were reburied last week in a new tomb at St. Stylianos – Lucaci Church in Bucharest. Our culture owes him numerous church hymn books printed in Romanian. “He was a chanter at many churches in Bucharest. He chanted at many monasteries in Wallachia and Transylvania. He wrote enormously for…

Jun 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania: Revering and helping the elderly are expressions of spiritual and social maturity in community life

During a ceremony on New Year’s Day at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest when 2023 was officially proclaimed as Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed the faithful, stressing that a community’s social maturity can be evaluated by the way…

Jan 12, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Synodal Decree on the Proclamation of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2023 in the Romanian Patriarchate: full text

The year 2023 was proclaimed as the “Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Elderly” and the “Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Church Chanters” in the Romanian Patriarchate. The Synodal Decree on the Proclamation of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2023 was read by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at New Year’s…

Jan 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Solemn, Commemorative Year 2023 officially proclaimed. It is a great opportunity to visit the elderly, Patriarch Daniel says

The Solemn and Commemorative Year 2023 was officially proclaimed at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest after the Divine Liturgy celebrated on New Year’s Day. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared 2023 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and a Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters. The…

Jan 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Protopsaltes Archdeacon Mihail Bucă welcomes Holy Synod decision to commemorate church chanters in 2023

The year 2023 will be an occasion to commemorate hymnographers and church chanters (psaltes) in the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided this December. The Reverend Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, founder and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, welcomed this decision. “I feel that the…

Dec 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu