January 6, 2018 UPDATE

Newsroom, 06.01.2019, 18:49

FEAST DAY – Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians in Romania on
Sunday celebrated the Baptism of the Christ, the feast day commemorating the
baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The feast day marks
the end of the Christmas celebration period. Roman-Catholic Christians in
Romania celebrated the Epiphany, the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus
Christ. Christian Churches observing the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on
January 7. The Patriarchy of Constantinople decided in early 20th
century to switch from the old Julian Calendar to a revised Gregorian calendar,
which provides for a 13-day gap between the two. Many citizens from the
Republic of Moldova chose to spend Christmas in the Old Julian Calendar in
Romania.

CONCERTS – The Romanian
Symphony Orchestra is on a tour to the United States until January 16. During
this period it will hold seven concerts, in Florida, Palm Beach, Miami, Fort
Myers, Detroit and New Jersey. The final concert will be at Lincoln Center in
New York, with famous trumpet player Wynton Marsalis as special guest. The
Romanian Symphony Orchestra is made up of valuable former members of the National
Youth Orchestra. The tour organizers are the Tinerimea Romana National Art
Center and the Romanian Cultural Institute.

BENEFITS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed concern
regarding Austria’s decision to slash the benefits for children of EU citizens
working in Austria, adding that the measure goes against principles underlying
community legislation. The benefits were cut starting January 1 to the
corresponding amount in the countries of origin, in the case the children
remained at home. The measure does not apply to any children currently residing
in Austria. Bucharest claims EU membership compels all states to ensure fair,
balanced and unbiased treatment for all European citizens. Several ministries
in Romania have criticized the move, and the Minister for Romanians Worldwide
said Romania would approach the topic as president of the Council of the
European Union.

PRESIDENCY – The rector of the School of Political Sciences in
Bucharest, former Education Minister Remus Pricopie said Romania’s presidency
of the EU Council will not freeze domestic politics for six months. The theory
saying Governments don’t change during the EU Council Presidency is false,
Pricopie said in a social media post. Since 1958 14 governments were changed
during their term at the helm of the Council of the EU for various reasons,
elections, no-confidence motions or early elections, Remus Pricopie went on to
say.

UKRAINIAN CHURCH – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of
Constantinople on Sunday handed the decree granting independence to the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church to its leader, Metropolitan Yepifaniy. The
decree opens the way for Ukraine’s Orthodox Church to be recognized by other
branches of orthodoxy and other churches. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
on December 15 announced the setup of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church
after a historic decision of the Reunification Council of Orthodox Bishops in
Kiev. Earlier in 2018 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
recognized an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine, revoking a 332-year-old
decree placing the Ukrainian Church under the authority of the Patriarchy of
Moscow. In turn, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the severance of ties
with the Patriarchy of Constantinople. News agencies note the escalating religious
tension marks a new episode in the political, cultural and social rupture
between Kiev and Moscow following the 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula
by the Russian Federation and the armed conflict between the Ukrainian forces
and pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine.

TENNIS – Romanian-born Canadian player Bianca Andreescu was ousted
2-6, 7-5, 6-1 by Julia Goerges of Germany on Sunday in the final match of the
Auckland tennis tournament in New Zealand, totaling 250 thousand dollars in
prize money. Andreescu, WTA no. 152, had an exceptional run at Auckland,
knocking out Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Venus Williams of the US.
Following this performance, Andreescu climbed 40 spots in WTA standings. We
recall Simona Halep ended 2018 in top position in WTA standings. Another five
Romanians are currently ranked in the Top 100: Mihaela Buzarnescu (24), Irina
Begu (67), Ana Bogdan (76), Sorana Cirstea (84) and Monica Niculescu (99).

SPORTS – CS Magura Cisnadie on Sunday lost 18-41 to Team Esbjerg of
Denmark in the first fixture of Group A in the EHF Cup. The next fixture will
be against SG BBM Bietigheim of Germany at home. Also in the EHF Cup, the title
holders SCM Craiova defeated 18-12 another team from Denmark, Nykobing Falster
Handbold, in its first Group D fixture. Craiova will next play Spain’s Super
Amara Bera Bera on January 12 away from home. On Saturday, Romania’s national
volley team lost 2-3 to Spain in Group F of the European Championship
preliminaries. The final match will be played on Wednesday against Bosnia.
Romania needs to win a minimum of two sets of advance to the final tournament
to be hosted by Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey over August 23 – September
8.

(Translated by V. Palcu)