The Moldavian diocese came out in support of the canonical church in Ukraine
The Balti-Falesti diocese of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (a self-governing part of the Moscow Patriarchate) issued an appeal in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
At the same time, during all ten months of open religious confrontation in Ukraine, neither the Moldavian Metropolis nor the local synod expressed their attitude towards persecution of co-religionists. Only Bishop Markell of Balti, whom the Orthodox of Moldova and Transnistria have long considered the only firm and consistent fighter for traditional values and fraternal relations with Russia in a rapidly European-integrating state, decided to take such an initiative.
“Dear brothers and sisters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, close to our hearts! - says in Outstanding. “We, the clergy, monastics and laity of the Balti-Falesti diocese of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, appeal to you in order to support you with kind words, imbued with Christian love and compassion, in the time of trials, sorrows, persecutions that are now occurring in Ukraine under the guise of crafty concern for “ reunification of the Church."
We see and hear how Orthodox believers are forced by threats and violence to sign in order to take away churches, how legitimate priests are driven from their places by false shepherds-schismatics, deprived of the grace of God, believers of the Balti-Falesti diocese assure. – We are outraged by how human rights and freedoms of citizens are trampled in Ukraine, including freedom of conscience, how secular authorities invade church life, violating not only the Constitution of Ukraine, which proclaims the separation of the Church from the state, but also the norms of International Law, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 18, 19 and 20, etc.).”
“We recognize that only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, is the true, canonical, legitimate Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” say the authors of the appeal. – Together with the entirety of the Russian Orthodox Church, we condemn the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which invaded someone else’s inheritance, contacted schismatics, entered into a conspiracy with anti-Christian political forces, and caused irreparable harm to the Church of Christ. These secular and church leaders, who turned out to be Judases, bear full responsibility for the worsening of the schism, for the persecution, persecution and suffering of the Orthodox believers of Ukraine.”
The authors of the appeal are convinced that “only by uniting around His Beatitude Onuphry, the only valid and canonical Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, while remaining faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with prayer, faith and hope in God can we win this battle.” “Chaos, schism and persecution in Ukraine are just an episode of the centuries-old war waged by the devil against the Church of Christ,” the document clarifies.
“Your sorrows and tears are our suffering and pain! We, along with many believers of our native Russian Orthodox Church, sympathizing with your sorrows, pray that the Lord will end the civil and political confrontation in Ukraine... call apostates, schismatics and heretics to repentance.”
The Balti diocese has no doubt that “the forces that blew up the peace and well-being of Ukraine from within, and caused a church schism, dream of destroying the peace of the church in Moldova as well.”
At the end of the Address it is said: “Reverend bishops, honorable fathers, brothers and sisters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, God has allowed you to go through the fiery test. Now the Lord is calling many of you to the feat of confession and... even martyrdom. You suffer for the Truth, for the unity of the Church - the Body of Christ, and therefore - for Christ! Therefore, let the divinely inspired words of the Holy Apostle Peter serve you as consolation: “Beloved! do not shun the fiery temptation sent to you as a strange adventure, but rejoice as you participate in Christ’s sufferings, and at the revelation of His glory you will rejoice and triumph” (1 Pet. 4,12:13-XNUMX).
God help you!
With love in the Lord, Markell, Bishop of Balti and Falesti, clergy, monastics and laity of the Balti-Falesti diocese of the Orthodox Church of Moldova"
The document was unanimously adopted at the diocesan meeting of the Balti-Falesti diocese on February 21, 2019.
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