RomOC condems Moldovan Metropolis for defrocking clerics who defected
The building of the Bessarabian Metropolis in Chisinau. Photo: rupor.md
On November 11, 2025, the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church published an official statement on its website, criticizing the decision of the Synod of the Moldovan Metropolis to defrock 11 clerics who left the Cahul and Comrat Eparchy.
The text claims that the statement of the Moldovan Metropolis "contains errors and is misleading", and the very name "Orthodox Church of Moldova" is used incorrectly. Representatives of the Bessarabian Metropolis also expressed dissatisfaction with the official communication of the Synod, which condemned the clergy's involvement in politics.
The statement from the Romanian Orthodox Church states that the decisions to defrock "have no force" concerning those priests who have been under the jurisdiction of the Bessarabian Metropolis for several years and, according to their version, "do not belong to the jurisdiction of the Moldovan Metropolis".
The publication contains criticism of the Moldovan Metropolis: it is accused of "double standards", "interference in political processes", and internal instability.
The message from the Bessarabian Metropolis also contains a call for representatives of the Moldovan Metropolis to "repent" and a statement that Chisinau's actions are "interference in the life of another church jurisdiction."
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that 11 priests in Moldova were defrocked for defecting to the Romanian Church.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.