DESS head: We want Romanian Orthodox in Ukraine to be under the OCU

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Suspilne

In an interview with Suspilne, Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), said that he is working to bring Romanian-speaking UOC communities in Bukovyna under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

“In Romania, there is a Ukrainian vicariate within the Romanian Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to Patriarch Daniel of Romania. We would like to see a Romanian vicariate in Ukraine as well, and for it to be subordinate to the primate of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine,” Yelenskyi stated, adding that “certain steps need to be taken on both sides” to make that happen.

He noted that he discussed these matters with Ciprian Olinici, Romania’s State Secretary for Religious Affairs, during the latter’s visit to Chernivtsi.

Yelensky also said the OCU hopes to be recognized by the Romanian Orthodox Church.

He recalled that a Romanian vicariate had already been established within the OCU some time ago, and DESS is working on developing it.

“For that, we need parishes and Romanian-speaking priests. This is all gradually emerging or being formalized – and the vicariate will start functioning,” Yelensky assured, adding that “Ukraine guarantees Romanians in the vicariate all possible rights to preserve and develop their cultural and religious identity, their liturgical and ritual customs.”

He justified such preferences by stating that Romanian Ukrainians are “our citizens.” When asked by the journalist if this would only work once at least one Romanian-speaking community joined the OCU, Yelensky responded that “such communities already exist.”

“It’s more about bureaucratic formalization, perhaps. It’s not that difficult. What matters is that people see they can be part of this vicariate and better and more fully meet their spiritual needs, express their religious feelings,” the official said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that UOC attorney Robert Amsterdam called Yelensky a "guy" who is responsible for decimating the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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