Author: Fr. Cezar Tabarna
January 8, 2009
“The Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) has a strong Diaspora in the United States of America.” (Unofficial translation) Three articles found in “ZIARUL LUMINA” – THE LIGHT NEWSPAPER (The Romanian Patriarchate’s Daily) January 6, 7, 8, 2009.
January 6, 2009.
The beginning of the canonical organizing of the Romanian Orthodox Church in both Americas was made at the Church Congress, made up of clergy and lay representatives from existing Romanian Orthodox parishes in the United States and Canada, which met in Detroit Michigan on April 25, 1929. It was decided at this Congress that to initiate a Missionary Episcopate under the canonical jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Congress let its decision be known by way of a written request to the Patriarchate signed by all of the parish representatives. At their November 1929 meeting, the National Church Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate approved the request made by the American church Congress. Following these decisions, His Holiness Patriarch Miron offered the newly started Missionary Episcopate canonical authority by means of the Patriarchal decree #10219 dated November 1, 1930. The Patriarch gave authority to the interim administrative Council, formed at the 1929 Congress, to organize, educate and lead in all Episcopate matters until the election and installation of a Bishop. In order to better organize not only the Episcopate but also its parishes in conformity with Orthodox Canons, the Church Congress held in Cleveland Ohio on October 30, 1932 adopted a Constitution and By-laws organizing church life. The Constitution was ratified by the (BOR’s) Holy Synod at their June 15, 1933 meeting. Afterwards revisions were made; the first and most important being adopted at the July 1935 Congress under the Presidency of Bishop Policarp.
Of equal importance are the (BOR’s) Holy Synod decisions regarding the Archdiocese’s Autonomy. The first of these was decided upon by the Permanent Synod on July 12, 1950. The second was expressed in a Decree of (BOR’s) Plenary Holy Synod Session of December 12, 1974, which clearly defines the unique relationship between the Mother Church and her daughter in the two Americas.
January 7, 2009.
The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the two Americas is an eparchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), with which it retains a unity of apostolic faith, dogmatically, canonically and liturgically. This relationship is defined in (BOR’s) Holy Synod Decree dated July 12, 1950 and in the Holy Synod’s Plenary Session of December 12, 1974.
In the Constitution of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America it stipulates: “Being in complete canonical and ecclesiastic communion with BOR, as well as with the eparchies of other Orthodox Churches with canonical jurisdiction in North and South America, the Archdiocese is a founding member of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA), the only recognized forum for inter-Orthodox relations in America, including the problem of Orthodox administrative unity in both Americas, and the Archbishop is a voting member of said group. Inasmuch as it is the unique organization having continuous and uninterrupted canonical and spiritual ties with BOR, the Archdiocese has the exclusive right to recognize church institutions of Orthodox Christians of Romanian origin that are in its juridical limits as well as having the right to use the term “Romanian Orthodox” as a qualifier or as its official title. The Archdiocese asks that all Romanian Orthodox Christians, clergy and laity, attempt to maintain canonical, spiritual and administrative unity in both Americas, in conformity with the Traditions of the Orthodox Church.
The missionary role of the Archdiocese is to initiate and strengthen Orthodox Christian communities by spreading the Gospel, having communion of spirit with its members by means of the Holy Gifts, and by assisting them in fulfilling their pastoral and social needs. Inasmuch as it is a community which has its roots in the Romanian Orthodoxy, the Archdiocese is the organization that maintains the Romanian language and culture, together with all that is good and holy in the lives of the Romanian people, being at the same time conscious of its divine vocation to be the light for all who search Salvation, and this not only for Romanian immigrants in both Americas, but also for the following generations as well as for who joined these Romanian communities either through marriage or by conversion.
January 8, 2009.
The Archdiocese here (in America) is an autonomous eparchy, in line with Decrees of autonomy granted by the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR’s) Holy Synod on December 12, 1974. The jurisdiction of the Archdiocese includes North and South America. Following the Decree of Autonomy, the Archdiocese conducts itself following its own Constitution. The latter must maintain canonical, dogmatic and spiritual links to BOR’s Holy Synod, from which it receives the Holy Myrrh, in conformity with the Canons and the canonical organization of the Orthodox Church. The Archdiocese administers, instructs, leads and supervises the spiritual and religious life in the parishes, missions, monasteries and other eparchial institutions, auxiliary and youth organizations under its jurisdiction. The Archdiocese has its own printing facilities and publicizes books, newspapers bulletins and literature for the religious and moral education of its faithful, in keeping with the teachings of the Orthodox Church.
The Archdiocese is led by an Archbishop, chosen by Congress, confirmed and seated by BOR’s Holy Synod. The Archbishop holds the title of Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of both Americas, and is a permanent member of BOR’s Holy Synod. The Archdiocese includes the following institutions and organizations: the Central Eparchial Administration, deaneries, parishes, missions, monasteries and other monastic properties, theological institutes, and any other institutions and organizations. Presently, the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of both Americas is lead by His Eminence Nicolae Condrea, and the Bishop-Vicar is His Grace Ioan Casian.
The two Romanian Orthodox Eparchies in America and Canada decided in 2008 to unite under the canonical and spiritual administration of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), after over six decades of separation. The act of unity is the result of the dialogue between hierarchs, priests and laity of both eparchies, a dialogue encouraged by the Romanian Patriarchate. The new structure is called the “Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of both Americas”.