On August 20, Igor Dodon, the leader of Moldova's pro-Russian Socialist Party and former president of the country, received the Order of St. Volodymyr, First Class, from Onufriy (Berezovsky), the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Dodon announced this on his Facebook page.
The award ceremony was held during the visit of the Moldovan politician to the Holy Assumption Convent of the Moscow Patriarchate, located in the village of Kalarashovka, Oknitsa District. The ceremony coincided with the celebration of one of the monastery's three major holidays, St. Mitrofan's Day.
"This is an important holiday for the entire Orthodox community in the region. I congratulated the abbess, the nuns, and the parishioners, wishing everyone health, peace, and God's assistance," he wrote.
The post does not specify who awarded him the Order of the UOC-MP. However, it includes a photo of the order itself and a certificate signed by Metropolitan Onufriy, dated August 20, 2025.
The Moldovan publication Stiri reported that former President Igor Dodon of the Republic of Moldova has been awarded the Church Order of the First Degree, known as "Saint Grand Duke Volodymyr Equal to the Apostles." This honor was conferred by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Historian and religious scholar Dr. Serhii Shumylo notes that Igor Dodon is a staunchly pro-Russian politician. He is currently one of the leaders of the pro-Russian “Patriotic Bloc” in the Moldovan parliamentary elections, scheduled for the end of September 2025. Additionally, Dodon is a well-known supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church and its metropolitan authority in Ukraine, and he is also a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.