OCU warns Romania against creating a new structure in Ukraine

The "Synod" of the OCU. Photo: the press service of the OCU

On 7 November 2024, the ‘Synod’ of the OCU at its meeting considered the issue of the Romanian Orthodox Church's intention to create a subordinate church structure on the territory of Ukraine, reports the press service of the OCU.

The Dumenco structure warned the Romanian Patriarchate against such steps, pointing out their contradiction to the canonical order and the Tomos on the autocephaly of the OCU.

The Synod's statement emphasized that "all Orthodox church institutions within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, including those recognised by Romania, must operate within the framework of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and in coordination with it," as such actions violate not only canonical order but also could affect important issues related to Ukraine's state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The OCU expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with the Romanian Orthodox Church to address the needs of Romanian Orthodox believers living in Ukraine. As an example, the existence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania for Ukrainians living on Romanian territory was cited.

As reported by UOJ, the OCU held its first "service" in a church that had been taken from a Romanian-speaking parish of the UOC.

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