Regional

Moldovan Priest Barred Over Church Affiliation

The Bishop of Bălți and Fălești, Marchel, who reports to the Russian Patriarchate, has barred the priest of the village of Răuțel in the Fălești district, Victor Țurcanu, from officiating services.

This occurred after the priest and the parishioners of the village decided to transfer the church to the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as the church was originally founded under the Romanian Orthodox Church. Marchel's decision is null and void, according to a decision of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

In a video published by the Eparchy of Bălți and Fălești, Bishop Marchel denounces the priest from Răuțel for transferring to the Metropolis of Bessarabia.

"Priest Victor Țurcanu is deprived of the right to perform the holy sacraments; any priestly action he performs will not be recognized by God. In this sense, Priest Victor Țurcanu is equal to, for example, the church guard or the kindergarten guard," says the Bishop of Bălți and Fălești of the Metropolis of Moldova, Marchel.

He also criticised those parishioners who supported the priest, urging them not to attend services and not to receive Victor Țurcan in their homes.

"Do not cross the threshold of the church in the village now, because there is an apostate there. He tries to pass himself off as a priest. Do not dare to participate in the so-called services performed by him, because he is uncanonical. Do not receive him in your homes either," the Bishop added.

The transfer of the church in the village of Răuțel to the Metropolis of Bessarabia caused a dispute during the Sunday service in the courtyard of the church. The departure from the Metropolis of Moldova, subordinate to Russia, was welcomed by some parishioners, but others accused the priest of selling out. However, according to a recent decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, all Romanian Orthodox clerics in the Republic of Moldova who return to the Metropolis of Bessarabia are canonical clerics and blessed faithful. Any disciplinary sanction against them on the grounds of their belonging to the Romanian Orthodox Church is considered null and void.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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