Romanian Patriarchate: 'Ukrainian State Does Not Respect Its Own Laws'
The Romanian Orthodox Church rejected a request by Kiev's ambassador to Bucharest to recognize the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine, citing concerns about the OCU's canonical status and the rights of Romanian Christians.
BUCHAREST — Recent comments by Ukraine's ambassador to Romania inspired the Romanian Patriarchate to renew its support for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk recently insisted that the Romanian Orthodox Church recognize the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), stating it would strengthen ties between the two nations. Speaking at a press conference, Prokopchuk argued that such recognition would foster trust and enhance relations.
However, the Romanian Orthodox Church, in an exclusive statement to STIRIPESURSE.RO, ruled this out categorically.
The Romanian Patriarchate noted that the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s 2019 Tomos of Autocephaly was accepted only by Ukrainian schismatics, not members of the UOC.
The Patriarchate also pointed to the presence of 127 Romanian Orthodox parishes in Ukraine, particularly in Northern Bukovina, which remain under Moscow’s jurisdiction. These communities fear that Romania's recognition of the schismatic Orthodox Church in Ukraine would result in these parishes being forced to join the OCU.
"Following consultations with Romanian Orthodox clergy and laity in Ukraine, the majority firmly reject, even with fear, the possibility of being transferred to the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," the Patriarchate said.
"The Ukrainian state does not respect its own laws," it continued, "refusing to recognize the Religious Association (Administration) of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which meets all the legal criteria stipulated by current Ukrainian legislation."
The Romanian Orthodox Church also criticized Ukraine’s failure to respect the rights of Romanian believers, including denying legal recognition to the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, despite meeting legal criteria.
The Patriarchate noted that Ukraine has promises to allow Romanian-language services. However, the Romanians assert that such promises lack credibility—especially after a Chernivtsi parish with Romanian inscription was stolen by the OCU.
The Church reiterated its 2018-2019 calls for dialogue between Constantinople and Moscow to resolve the schism, suggesting a pan-Orthodox synaxis if bilateral talks fail. It also demanded guarantees for Romanian parishes’ ethnic and linguistic identity, including the creation of a Romanian Orthodox Vicariate in Ukraine.
