Home page News
Statement by the Synod of the Orthodox Church…

Statement by the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova with regard to the current tragic situation of persecution of clergy and flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The statement was adopted at a session of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova on 19th April 2019.

The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova once again voices its deep concern over the current tragic situation of persecution of the clergy and flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church led by its Primate – His Beatitude Onufry, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

The episcopate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova resolutely condemns the anti-canonical interference of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople who granted the “Tomos of Autocephaly” to the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” artificially created as the result of merger between two schismatic structures. This act has made no contribution whatsoever to the restoration of peace and unity among the Ukrainian Christians, but, on the contrary, has only triggered off even more severe consequences for the whole Universal Orthodoxy.

What is more, the method chosen by the Patriarchate of Constantinople for “resolving the ecclesiastical problem” in the neighbouring country with direct involvement and support of the secular authorities of Ukraine, as well as hostile and discriminatory measures against the clergy and flock of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is a part of the Moscow Patriarchate, compel us to once again declare them alien to the centuries-old life and teaching of our Holy Orthodox Church.

The violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of clergymen and faithful of the canonical Church by depriving the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of its name and the actual legitimization of the practice of seizures of its church buildings and historical monasteries with the support of security and law enforcement agencies, carried out contrary to decisions of religious communities that expressed their wish to remain in the bosom of the canonical Church, clearly indicate the major goal of the newly-created church structure – to liquidate the canonical Orthodox Church in this territory.

On these days of grief for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, joining all the Local Orthodox Churches, in the person of all its bishops, clergy and flock expresses prayerful support to our brothers from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, lifting up prayers to the All-Merciful God, that He may strengthen them in the sufferings by granting them patience and firmness in confessing the holy Orthodox faith, following the words of St. Paul who repeatedly suffered persecutions for the Lord’s sake: “I… beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3).

At the same time the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova calls upon the international community to devote attention to the injustice committed in Ukraine, which results in violations of basic human rights, as well as to the cruel and insulting interference of the state authorities of Ukraine in the life and ecclesial and administrative organization of the local Orthodox Church.

Chisinau, 19th April 2019

Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova

Members of the Synod:

Archbishopishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubăsari,
Bishop Anatolie of Cahul and Comrat,
Bishop Petru of Ungheni and Nisporeni,
Bishop Marchel of Bălţi and Făleşti,
Bishop Nicodim of Edineţ and Briceni,
Bishop Ioan of Soroca, vicar of the Chisinau diocese,
Bishop Siluan of Orhei, vicar of the Chisinau diocese,

Archpriest Vadim Cheibaş, secretary of the Synod

Share:
Αγιώτατος Πατριάρχης Κύριλλος: Η παραβίαση των δικαιωμάτων των πιστών της Ουκρανικής Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας αναγνωρίζεται στους απολογισμούς των διεθνών οργανισμών προστασίας ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.

20.12.2024

Phone conversation took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed sympathy and full support to the Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church

12.12.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church is fervently praying for the Patriarch, bishops, clergy, and flock of the Antiochian Church

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan

22.11.2024

Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب