The head of the Mukachevo-Karpattya diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Viktor Bied, commented on the decision of the Romanian Patriarchate’s synod to establish the Romanian Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Bed stated that such actions of the Romanian Patriarchate are dictated by the “influence of the FSS structures” on the Romanian authorities and the Church. This is stated in a statement published on the official website of the Mukachevo-Karpattya diocese of the OCU.

“The adoption of such a disparaging and provocative decision against Ukraine and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, particularly in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014 – 2024, indicates the great influence on the political public in Romania (Romanian authorities) and the hierarchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church of the structures of the FSS of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Patriarchate, which destabilize by all methods the unity of the countries of the European Union, NATO members and Ecumenical Orthodoxy”, – the statement reads.

In addition, Bied is convinced that such actions of the Romanian Orthodox Church speak about the serious influence of “Russian narratives” on the political and ecclesiastical life of Romania.

“With this decision, it becomes clear why the Romanian Orthodox Church has been and is still evading official recognition of the Local Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and also indicates that at the level of Romanian politician and Romanian church hierarchy, Russian narratives that Ukraine may lose the war and further be divided prevail. It is a shame, but this negative fact is evidence, so far, of Ukraine’s loss on the international information front to Russian Putin-Patrushev propaganda and the weakness of Ukrainian diplomacy and Ukrainian special services in protecting Ukrainian national interests and, in particular, religious security at the international level”, – Bied claims.

In addition, the head of the Mukachevo-Karpattya diocese of the OCU called on the Ukrainian authorities to “take measures” against the said initiative of the Romanian Church.

“Ukraine and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine should not give in to this Romanian-Church provocation, the directors of which sit in the power offices of hostile Moscovia, but along with this, must take immediate and effective measures to protect the national and religious security of Ukraine,” – summarized Bied.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the lobbyist of the OCU in the media, Oleksandr Sagan, accused “Moscow’s agents” of creating the Romanian Orthodox Church of Ukraine.