Romanian Church: Clergy of Romanian communities in Ukraine belong to UOC
Vasile Bănescu, spokesperson for the Romanian Patriarchate. Photo: basilica.ro
Priests of the Romanian communities in Ukraine do not belong to the Romanian Patriarchate, but mostly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports basilica.ro, citing the spokesperson for the Romanian Patriarchate Vasile Bănescu.
According to the spokesman, Orthodox Romanians in Ukraine, including priests, " have the duty to conscience to adapt in a wise Christian, honest and realistic way" to respond to the "tragic reality" that exists in the country today.
"It is essential to preserve and cultivate the Christian conscience, fidelity to the truth of faith and the moral values born of it," Bănescu said.
At the same time, he stressed that the Romanian Orthodox Church advocates respect for the rights of the ethnic Romanian minority, preserving its linguistic, religious and cultural identity in all countries, not only in Ukraine.
As noted by basilica.ro, according to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in Ukraine, there are more than 120 Romanian Orthodox parishes, located mainly in the northern part of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC.
As earlier reported, Romanian politician Gelu Visan harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Romania TV because of the repression against the UOC. In particular, Visan accused Zelenskyy of planning to close "100 Romanian churches".
Read also
Relics of St. Tikhon Visit Belgorod, Will Continue Nationwide Procession in Russia
Faithful gather at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to venerate relics of Patriarch-Confessor.
New Hampshire Becomes 20th State to Ban All Gender Transition Procedures for Minors
Governor Ayotte signs laws prohibiting surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers for youth.
Media: Abp. of Cyprus blackmails Pat. Bartholomew with Onuphry mention
Fr. Evangelos Papanikolaou claims that Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus will commemorate Met. Onuphry of Kyiv (UOC) if Constantinople overturns controversial ruling on Met. Tychikos of Paphos.
WCC Demands 'Protection' for St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai
The WCC also passed resolutions on the Armenian Genocide and the terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus.
Russian Orthodox Church Provides Aid to Earthquake Victims
Volunteers from the Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka Diocese are providing food and aid at the Holy Trinity Cathedral’s humanitarian warehouse to support residents affected by a powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka.
Serbian Patriarch Slams 'Undemocratic' Ruling Against Republika Srpska Leader
Patrarch Porfirije condemned the verdict as "unlawful and undemocratic." He is a vocal supporter of autonomy for Bosnian Serbs.