The Romanian Patriarchate stated on Tuesday that it firmly distances itself from the statements made by Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis in an interview given to the French newspaper „Le Figaro” regarding Călin Georgescu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Romanian Patriarchate, in the upcoming working session of the Holy Synod, the case of Archbishop Teodosie will be investigated for „repeatedly violating the decisions of the Holy Synod regarding electoral campaigns.”
"We remind that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided, starting from 2008, that it is forbidden for bishops, priests, deacons, monks, and nuns of the Romanian Orthodox Church to engage in partisan politics or participate in electoral campaigns as supporters," the Patriarchate stated.
Thus, the Romanian Orthodox Church "clearly asserts its neutrality" during electoral campaigns and disassociates itself from any form of partisan politics.
On the Friday before the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the elections for the position of the President of Romania, when Elena Lasconi and Călin Georgescu were the candidates for the second round of voting, Archbishop Teodosie had an electoral message for the faithful: "Do not extinguish the ray of light that has appeared, do not replace it with the ray of darkness. Go with faith to be partakers of the light and love of God. Pray to do what is most beneficial," according to Dobrogea Live.
Later, in an interview for "Le Figaro," Archbishop Teodosie explains that, in theory, his position prohibits him from commenting on political events. However, as the second round of the presidential elections in Romania approaches - annulled on Friday, at the last moment, by the Constitutional Court - he has no intention of stopping from saying everything he believes about the nationalist and Russophile candidate Călin Georgescu.
"I do this," he says, with a voice trembling with emotion, "because he is more of a man of God than a politician. He is a believer, a descendant and great-grandson of a priest, who defends Christian values and is interested in the daily lives of Romanians. Unlike most other candidates, he has a balanced temperament, never raises his voice, and does not deny himself.
Of course, as the devil exists everywhere, there are people who oppose him. But most of my faithful share my appreciation. We believe that Mr. Georgescu is a messenger of God," said Archbishop Teodosie, as quoted by Le Figaro.
In the same interview, Teodosie also said that "Vladimir Putin is a man of reconciliation and a builder of churches."