OCU expects to be recognized by Romanian Patriarchate, - Yelenskyy

Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, commented on the attempts of the Romanian Orthodox Church to open its jurisdiction in Ukraine. The official said that the OCU has already established a “Romanian vicariate,” which is supposed to include Romanian-speaking parishes in Bukovyna. In addition, in this way, the OCU hopes that the Romanian Patriarchate will recognize the Ukrainian schism. He spoke about this in an interview with Suspilne.Chernivtsi.

“It is a matter of mutual interest. It was about the right to freedom of conscience of Ukrainians who live and are citizens of Romania, and Romanians who live in Ukraine and are citizens of Ukraine. 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 head of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. For this to happen, both sides need to take certain steps. It was created a long time ago as part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Now we are working to fill this vicariate with content. This requires parishes and Romanian-speaking priests. All this is gradually emerging or being formalized, and the vicariate will start working,” – the official said.

Yelensky added that the OCU is thus trying to gain recognition from the Romanian Orthodox Church. In his opinion, the organization creates all the conditions for Romanian-speaking citizens to preserve their language and culture.

“It’s not a matter of formality, but the fact that the OCU would like the Romanian Orthodox Church to recognize it. Just like the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople, the first in honor in the Orthodox world, and the second, the Throne of Alexandria, recognized it. As did the Greek and Cypriot Churches. I think that the OCU is waiting for such recognition. For its part, Ukraine guarantees the Romanians in the vicariate all possible rights to preserve and develop their cultural and religious identity, their liturgical and ceremonial customs. Because these are our citizens. It was created a long time ago as part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Now we are working to fill this vicariate with meaning. This requires parishes and Romanian-speaking priests. All this is gradually emerging or being formalized, and the vicariate will start working,” – added the head of the SSEPFC.

As reported, on November 7, 2024, a meeting of the Synod of the OCU was held in Kyiv. The organization criticized the attempts of the Romanian Patriarchate to create a parallel jurisdiction in Ukraine – the Romanian Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which, according to the plan of the Romanian Orthodox Church, should include the parishes of the UOC in Bukovyna and Transcarpathia.