The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova defrocked 11 clergymen for schism

At a meeting on November 11, 2025, in Chisinau, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) adopted a number of important decisions, including the defrocking of eleven clergymen who had transferred to the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Patriarchate. The meeting was held at the Metropolitan Residence and chaired by Metropolitan Volodymyr of Chisinau and All Moldova.

The central decision of the Synod was the defrocking of eleven clergymen of the Cahul and Comrat diocese. As reported in the final documents published on the official website of the Metropolitanate of Moldova, this decision was made in connection with «unauthorized and canonically unjustified leaving of the diocese.» The Synod ruled that the clergy violated the oath given during their ordination and did not take advantage of the time given for repentance. The list of defrocked priests includes: Hieromonk Nicodemus (Marku), Archpriest John Goryanu, Archpriest Simeon Popovich, Archpriest John Drangoi, Archpriest Constantin Munteanu, Archpriest Michael Ciobanu, Archpriest Dmitry Zheria, Archpriest Nikolai Goryanu, Archpriest Constantin Birliga, Priest Alexei Tyake, and Archpriest Sava Sheremet.

The participants of the Synod reaffirmed the position of the Church on the inadmissibility of involving clergy and church institutions in the political and electoral processes of the country. It was also decided to adopt a special Appeal of the Synod to the clergy and faithful in connection with the dissemination of «provocative and shameful messages» against the Orthodox Church of Moldova in the public space.

Earlier, we reported that the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) issued an official address to the clergy and people in which it responded to the «provocative and defamatory» statements against the Church being spread in the public space. The document emphasizes that the OCM is independent in its governance, does not interfere in politics, and unites believers of all nationalities in the country, and that attempts to discredit it are dangerous for the spiritual unity of society.