Romanian Orthodox Metropolis Warns of Fake Website Impersonating Church Hierarchs
Photo: orthodoxwiki.org
CHICAGO — The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas issued an official warning on December 17 regarding a fraudulent website that falsely claims ecclesiastical legitimacy by misusing the images and identities of prominent Orthodox hierarchs.
According to the press release, a website operating under the name “Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of the Americas” has unlawfully used a photograph of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, misidentifying him as “Archbishop Gregory,” despite his having no affiliation with the group. The site also falsely identifies photographs of His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, as “Patriarch Paulos I,” and Bp. Matthew of the Moscow Patriarchal Parishes in the USA as “Bishop Methodius.”
Church officials stated that these deliberate misrepresentations are intended to deceive the faithful and have no canonical basis within Orthodoxy. The Metropolis has begun legal and administrative action and urged clergy and faithful to rely only on official, canonically recognized Church sources.
Previously, the UOJ reported on Met. Nicolae's blessing of the newly renovated headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.