Moldovan Metropolis of ROC calls on Romanian Church for dialogue

Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau. Photo: the Facebook page of the Church of Moldova

On 6 March 2024, the head of the Moldovan Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau, sent a letter to Patriarch Daniel of Romania, calling on the Romanian Church for dialogue. The letter was published on the official website of the Church of Moldova.

The text states that "divisions among brothers to the joy of politicians are again being used as pre-election weapons, and the souls of believers are lost in the nets of sects."

"It is painful to observe how material interests awaken an adaptive patriotism in some Church ministers, and the salary offered affects the perception of their nationality, a salary that some of our priests receive, even those who have not joined the Metropolis of Bessarabia," Metropolitan Vladimir writes.

He says that "under the guise of Synodal Resolution No. 8.090 of December 19, 1992, the clergy banned from ministry or defrocked for serious moral offences and incompatibility with priestly ministry are accepted as ministers of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Others, who until yesterday declared their loyalty to the Metropolis of Moldova, have left our Metropolis without asking for a release letter, which we issue to every clergyman who requests it."

The Metropolitan writes that the Church of Moldova advocates for constructive dialogue but faces non-transparency and ill-will, as some supposed advisers and pseudo-advisors of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, interfering in the work of reconciliation of our institutions, constantly sow jealousy and discord."

"Your Beatitude, the involvement of the Romanian Orthodox Church in this bleeding wound should bring healing through fraternal dialogue, the restoration of communication, and the establishment of canonical obedience. Money will not bring peace to the territory between the Prut and the Dniester. We wish salvation and care for the faithful to prevail, regardless of their affiliation with one canonical structure or another, so that Your Beatitude's good intentions do not turn the Metropolis of Bessarabia into a bottomless sack, depleting the material resources of the Romanian Orthodox Church," Metropolitan Vladimir concluded.

As reported, the Romanian Patriarchate "gave the go-ahead" for the clergy from the Church of Moldova.

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