The Archdiocese of Tomis of the Romanian Orthodox Church is selling badges with the Russian national emblem in its souvenir shop a move likely welcomed by outlier Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis who last year praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Romania has shown solidarity and hospitality to thousands Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian aggression and its church has condemned the Russian invasion.
But in the Black Sea port of Constanta, a church shop is is selling badges with the Russian national emblem in its gift shop, among candles, icons, bracelets, and other religious items.
Last year, Orthodox church spokesman Vasile Banescu called Russia Orthodox patriarch Kirill: “This anti-Christ… has associated himself with the most hideous of things and is capable of committing atrocities in this dreadful and unjustified war.”
However, Archbishop Teodosie praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council lat year saying they „are not as evil as everyone paints them.”
„Of course, they have their sins. They are not responsible for the sins of their fathers who ushered in communism. They were not the ones to do it. It was the Westerns who introduced communism, they were the ones who imposed communis
„A two-headed eagle. This is a Slavic idea that the power of the state is inside the church. It’s in a frame, and St George in the center is more solemn,” said a shopkeeper explaining the badge’s symbolism.m. Marx and Engels are not from Russia.” .
The Archdiocese of Tomis recently found itself at the center of another controversy. The diocese’s press secretary and media advisor after the release of audio recordings in which he appears to confirm that Aneta Badiu, a former clairvoyant, has influence over Teodosie.
The Archdiocese of Tomis said it was conducting an internal investigation to find out who made the recordings.
