Prima pagină » English » Russia Patriarch Criticizes Romanian Church Over Metropolitan Of Bessarabia

Russia Patriarch Criticizes Romanian Church Over Metropolitan Of Bessarabia

Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow on Monday criticized the decisions of the Romanian Orthodox Church regarding the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia, saying the Romanian church “interfered with an autocephalous orthodox church” and that its actions were “anti-canonical,” the Moldovan presidency said in a statement.
Russia Patriarch Criticizes Romanian Church Over Metropolitan Of Bessarabia
21 ian. 2008, 17:14, English

The Russian patriarch on Monday met with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin.

The church official voiced his regrets that last year’s discussions with a delegation of the Romanian church were “unsuccessful,” but mentioned the two parties should carry on a dialogue in a hope to find a joint solution.

The Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia was set up by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1925. After the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia in 1940, the Russian church refused to its legal status. The Romanian church officially reactivated the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia on September 14, 1992.

In 2004, after years of legal hurdles and a final decision by the European Court of Human Rights, the Orthodox Church of Bessarabia received official registration.