Ukrainian Orthodox Church denies decorating Moldovan politician Igor Dodon
Two days after socialist leader Igor Dodon posted photos on social media of a diploma and an award he allegedly received from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Kyiv Metropolis, which is canonically subordinate to the Russian Patriarchate, issued an official statement denying the purported decoration. "The information is untrue," read the statement from Metropolitan Onuphrius' office.
On August 20, Mr Dodon attended the patron saint's day service at the "Dormition of the Mother of God" monastery in Calarașovca, Ocnița district, where he was reportedly presented with the "Holy, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Grand Prince Vladimir" ecclesiastical order. Vasile Tarlev, the leader of the "For the Future of Moldova" party, also attended the service. The two had formed a political electoral bloc to run in the autumn parliamentary elections.
Mr Dodon did not comment on the award on Facebook, simply posting photos of the diploma and the decoration itself. He was reportedly decorated for his contribution to promoting Orthodox values and strengthening spiritual relations between peoples.
Shortly after these images appeared, the Kyiv Metropolis issued an official reaction, denying the alleged award. "His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius has not issued any decree for such a decoration, and there is no mention of it in the Metropolis' official register of awards," the statement from the Kyiv Metropolitan Chancellery specified.
Mr Dodon did not respond to requests for comment from Teleradio-Moldova on the Ukrainian Metropolis' denial.
Previously, Metropolitan Vladimir of Moldova had also been awarded the "Holy Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker" Order by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This award was given in recognition of his work for the benefit of the Orthodox Church in Moldova.
In July, Metropolitan Onuphrius was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by presidential decree. Kyiv authorities cited Mr Onuphrius' acquisition of Russian citizenship, his persistent ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, and his opposition to the autocephaly.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
