The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), His Beatitude Daniel sent a video message for New Year 2026 and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, in which he wished Romanians "health and happiness, peace and joy", Agerpres reports.
"On the occasion of New Year 2026 and the Holy Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I extend to you all wishes of health and happiness, peace and joy, along with the traditional greeting: Many happy returns!," the Patriarch said, according to the Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The Romanian Orthodox Church has declared 2026 the Solemn Year of Christian Family Ministry and the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the church calendar (Myrrh-bearers, Martyrs, Venerable Women, Wives, and Mothers).
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On New Year's Eve, all places of worship of the Romanian Orthodox Church hold a service of thanksgiving and blessing for the beginning of the new calendar year.
According to the Romanian Patriarchate, the rite established by the Holy Synod in 2011 includes the reading of the Akathist to our Lord Jesus Christ, as on 1 January we remember the moment when the Son of God, incarnate, received the name Jesus. Jesus means "God saves" in Hebrew and is pronounced approximately 200 times in the Akathist.
The service officiated on the night of the year's passing also includes the prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian to the Saviour, a prayer of thanksgiving and two prayers for entering the new year - one from the Romanian and Slavic liturgical tradition (also read during the Te Deum service after the Divine Liturgy on the first day of the year) and another from the Greek tradition.
During the Akathist service to Our Lord Jesus Christ for the blessing of the New Year 2026 at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church delivers a teaching message.
On 1 January, the Church celebrates The Circumcision of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Saint Basil the Great. The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated ten times a year: 1 and 5 January, 20 and 27 March, 3, 10, 17, 28 and 30 April and 25 December.
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