On February 21, a regular meeting of the Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place. In addition to the report on social activities and other internal issues, the attitude of the Romanian Orthodox Church towards Ukrainian autocephaly was considered, Cerkvarium reports citing the press service of the Romanian Patriarchate.
On February 21, a regular meeting of the Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place. In addition to the report on social activities and other internal issues, the attitude of the Romanian Orthodox Church towards Ukrainian autocephaly was considered, Cerkvarium reports citing the press service of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Regarding the church situation in Ukraine, the Synod declared the following:
1. For almost 30 years, the problem of the split in Ukraine had not been resolved. There was also no appeal against the All-Orthodox mediation, as was the case with the split in Bulgaria.
2. The Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to get out of this impasse and issued the Tomos of autocephaly to the hierarchs, clergy and faithful who were not in unity with the Russian Orthodox Church and the fullness of Orthodoxy. However, the Tomos was accepted only by Ukrainian Orthodox, who were not in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate.
Therefore, the issue of church unity in Ukraine is still not fully resolved. There is also a large Russian ethnic population, which maintains direct contacts with the Moscow Patriarchate.
3. Regarding this tense church situation in Ukraine, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church reiterates the view expressed earlier in the meetings on May 24 and October 25, 2018.
At that time, it was recommended to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate to determine the ways of resolving this church dispute in order to preserve the unity of faith, respect for the administrative and pastoral freedom of the clergy and believers in this country (including the right to autocephaly) and the restoration of the Eucharistic community.
4. In the event of a failure of the bilateral dialogue, it is necessary to convene the Synaxis of all the Primates of the Orthodox Churches to resolve the existing problem.
5. To make a specific and correct decision, the next session of the Synod will give priority to the fact that there are 127 Romanian Orthodox parishes in Ukraine, especially in the region of Northern Bukovyna, under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
It is necessary to hold real consultations with these Romanian Orthodox Christians who are concerned about preserving their ethnic and linguistic identity.
6. On this issue, it is necessary to obtain written guarantees from the Church and secular Ukrainian authorities that the ethnic and linguistic identity of the Romanians will be respected and that these Romanian Orthodox people will be able to organize themselves in the Romanian Orthodox Vicariate and develop spiritual ties with the Romanian Patriarchate, maintain them, receive and to use liturgical and church books in the native language, that is, in Romanian. It should be noted that in Romania since 1990, the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate has operated.
7. Also, the Romanian Patriarchate will ask the Ecumenical Patriarchate to clarify the issue of non-canonical hierarchs and priests who belonged to the former “Kyivan Patriarchate”.
Following the above-mentioned consultations, the Holy Synod will express its official position regarding the church situation in Ukraine.