Romania’s Orthodox Church on Tuesday distanced itself from a pro-Putin bishop who publicly praised a far-right presidential candidate who was reportedly helped by Russia in his campaign.
The Romanian Orthodox Church said in a statement that it disagreed with “statements made by …. Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis in an interview with “Le Figaro” about Calin Georgescu and Russian President Vladimir Putin,” News.ro reported.
In the article, the Orthodox bishop called Georgescu: “more a man of God than a politician. He is a believer, grandson and great-grandson of a priest, who defends Christian values and is interested in the daily life of Romanians.”
He called Putin “a man of reconciliation and a builder of churches.” Teodosie is a well-known sympathizer of the Russian president and has gained attention for his anti-vaccine views and flamboyant appearances in public, such as riding a chariot through Constanta, the seat of his bishopric.
Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian fringe independent improbably won the first round of a presidential election. The presidential runoff was later annulled after declassified intelligence reports said Russian interference had boosted his campaign.
The presidential race will start from scratch early next year
Mr. Georgescu, who declared zero spending on his wildly successful TikTok-driven social-media campaign promoted unfounded theories, such as claims of Western conspiracies against Romania or fabricated stories about his opponents.
The Romanian Orthodox Church to which more than 85% of Romanians belong has been criticized after some of its clergy supported Georgescu’s campaign.
Pushing back against that, the Patriarchate’s press release said the next Holy Synod will discuss Teodosie for repeatedly violating Holy Synod rulings that cleric should not get involved in electoral campaigns.
“We remind you that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided, starting with 2008, that Orthodox bishops, priests, deacons, monks and nuns are forbidden to engage in party politics or participate in electoral campaigns. The Romanian Orthodox Church clearly affirms its neutrality during electoral campaigns and renounces any form of partisan politics,” the statement said.
