The Chancellery of the BOR Synod came, on Friday, March 1, 2024, with clarifications related to the role of the communicator Vasile Bănescu, mentioned on Thursday, after the end of the working session of the Synod, in the context of the measures adopted in the context of the trial of the slips of the archbishop of Tomis.
Vasile Bănescu remains the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchy PHOTO: Basilica
Vasile Bănescu, the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate, is the one who gave the reply to the archbishop of Tomis, ÎPS Teodosie, in the moments when the latter's statements caused controversies in the public space.
ÎPS Theodosius was judged in the work session of the Holy Synod, held on Thursday, February 29, 2024, for rebellion, being sanctioned with a “written synodal reprimand” for his statements and actions that led to “disturbance of peace in the life of the Church and society”. However, the Holy Synod also mentioned Vasile Bănescu in the communication regarding the decisions taken.
“He noted that, since the personal opinions of mr. Vasile Banescu are not equivalent to an official press release of the Romanian Patriarchate, starting from March 1, 2024, the press releases of the Romanian Patriarchate will be issued by the Chancellery of the Holy Synod, until the reorganization of the Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate”, transmitted on Thursday, February 29, the Chancellery of the Holy Synod.
A day away, the Chancellery of the Synod also comes with a “clarification regarding the media communication of the Romanian Patriarchate” and conveys that Vasile Bănescu has not lost his position as spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate, but that to improve the activity they will be co-opted “and other communication specialists, including clergy.”
“Since following the publication of the press release provided yesterday by the Chancellery of the Holy Synod, erroneous interpretations regarding the presence in office of the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate appeared in the public space, we specify that Mr. Vasile Bănescu occupies QI'm still workingÞacts as the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate within the Press and Public Relations Office of the Patriarchate, and the “reorganization” of this sector does not mean its dismissal, but improving the activity of this sector by co-opting other communication specialists, including clergy”the quoted source said.
Teodosie, arrows to Bănescu until close to the day of judgment
The Archbishop of Tomis, ÎPS Teodosie, has been constantly shooting arrows at the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate, Vasile Bănescu, the latter being almost the only voice that took a stand following the archbishop's actions and controversial statements. Teodosie “charged” Vasile Bănescu even two days before he was judged in the meeting of the Holy Synod.
Being asked, on Radio Dobrogea, the radio station of the Archdiocese of Tomis, why priests wear beards, ÎPS Teodosie answered: “That's natural. Beards are left for men. There are also exceptions, white people who don't grow beards and some of them who would like to have one are sad. The man must have a beard. Beardless men are crazy. Every man should have a beardeven more so the servants of the Orthodox Church”IPS Teodosie said.
From the point of view of the Tomis hierarch, men must have the face of Christ, who wore a beard. “They also carried the apostles and all the fathers of our Church. The beard is a natural element, which belongs to manhood, and all the more so the servants must wear this adornment left by God”also said the Archbishop of Tomis.
Theodosius was warned by the Holy Synod that if he continues to disturb the peace of the Church he risks even harsher sanctions.
“Approves that, in the event that His Eminence Father Theodosius, the Archbishop of Tomis, will relapse by being involved again in acts and actions of violating the statutory order of the Church and disturbing the peace in the life of the Church and society, regardless of the reasons cited for this, to be sent to the judgment of the First Bishop Consistory”the Synod also established.
