The Head of the State Service for Ethnopolicy announced the joining of the first community to the Romanian vicarage of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

At the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on March 27, the desire of some Romanian Orthodox communities of the UOC to join its structure was discussed. 26 priests of the UOC MP from Bukovina switched to the Romanian Church, but some of them refused due to pressure from the leadership of the UOC MP. The Head of the State Service for Ethnopolicy, Viktor Yelensky, explained that the resolution of the issue is complicated by the fact that the Romanian Church has not yet officially recognized the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.In Romania, there is a Ukrainian vicarage that unites Ukrainian-speaking Orthodox parishes. It is directly subordinate to the Romanian Patriarch Daniel. It would be logical if there were a Romanian vicarage in Ukraine that would unite Romanian parishes subordinate to the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Negotiations are currently ongoing between the states regarding the protection of the rights of individuals belonging to both the Romanian national minority in Ukraine and the Ukrainian national minority in Romania.Viktor Yelensky emphasized that Ukraine is ready to assist the Romanian national minority in freely expressing its needs, including religious ones. He also noted that the statements of ultra-right Romanian organizations about alleged discrimination against Romanians in Ukraine are not true.The Head of the State Service for Ethnopolicy shared that there is a community ready to become the core of the Romanian vicarage, and that the believers are expecting the return of their priest from abroad. Many Romanian-speaking communities intend to join the vicarage after the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is recognized by the Romanian Church.Many individuals have approached Viktor Yelensky expressing their desire to create a structure of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. This issue has taken on an interstate character. Consultations and negotiations with Romania are taking place.The principle of functioning of autocephalous churches in Ukraine is conciliarity. All who visit the Ukrainian church, regardless of ethnic origin, can fully develop their liturgical customs and use the Romanian language in services.In a letter sent by the Romanian patriarch, examples are provided that the establishment of structures of the Romanian Church on the territory of other local churches is done with the agreement of the corresponding local church. We propose to the Romanian Orthodox Church to agree on its position with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and to begin consultations and negotiations with the assistance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Such initiatives are supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and this issue is taking on concrete outlines with each passing day.