UOC explains why Romanian Church adopted Ukrainian Vicariate’s Statute

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Church adopted the Statute of the Ukrainian Vicariate. Photo: basilica.ro

The Romanian Orthodox Church has taken a step towards improving and optimizing the pastoral care of the Ukrainians living in Romania. Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, spoke about this in a comment for the UOJ.

“In the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Vicariate has existed since 1990, and it is spelled out in the Statute of this Church,” said the UOC spokesperson. “But until today this vicariate did not have its own internal statute and, accordingly, did not have the status of a legal entity. At its last meeting, the Synod of the Romanian Church adopted this statute. "

The deputy head of the UOC DECR stressed that the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Vicariate of the Romanian Orthodox Church extends only to Ukrainians in Romania, where there are about 60 Ukrainian-speaking parishes, and "the approved statute will allow regulating and streamlining their activities and facilitate the pastoral care of Ukrainians in Romania".

“Thus, it should be understood that the adoption of the“ Regulation on the Organization and Functioning of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of the Romanian Orthodox Church” is an internal affair of the Romanian Church, its step aimed at improving and optimizing the pastoral care of Ukrainians who live in Romania,” explained Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich.

As reported, on July 21, 2020, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Church approved the "Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of the Romanian Orthodox Church", and also adopted a new "Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese in Spain and Portugal".

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