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The Archbishop of Tomis, His Eminence Theodosius, sent an open letter to the Romanian government stating that “never before have the rights of Orthodox believers and clergy to pray been so mocked.”
The Archbishop of Tomis begins the letter by recalling the incident on Wednesday, from a church in Constance, when the police fined 39 people who did not wear a protective mask and did not respect the measures of physical distance.
“The incident that occurred in Constanza on the morning of November 25, 2020, on the occasion of the celebration of the patron saint of the Church of the Great Martyr Catalina in the Tomis Plus neighborhood, when policemen and gendarmes brutalized and fined the faithful present in service, it strengthens our conviction if it was necessary for us, the clergy, together with Orthodox believers, to face great abuses, which the authorities commit more and more often, probably under their tacit guidance ”, said His Eminence Theodosius.
He said that the rights of believers and clergy to pray have never been so ridiculed.
It is inadmissible that article 29 of the Romanian Constitution, paragraphs (1) and (5), is so naturally violated by the local authorities that you coordinate through the relevant ministers. Never before have the rights of Orthodox believers and clergy to pray been so mocked. Believers of the Romanian Orthodox Church and its servants are now forced to endure humiliation and cold, to be exposed to serious health problems due to low temperatures (which affect the immune system) and for the sake of exaggerated measures, illogical and taken by their unknown specialists, in total disregard for the norms of law, faith and traditions of the Romanian people, who consider that the annulment of a fundamental right, that of exercising and expressing faith, does not represent much, compared to the pandemic that is threatening us, ”Bishop Tomis also transmitted.
He said he wanted to publicly denounce the abuses that the prime minister allegedly orchestrated and that law enforcement agencies perpetrated against believers and clergy.
“We have endured a lot, since the beginning of this pandemic, together with all the people of good faith in this country and we have respected the health measures initially taken, with responsibility. This time, however, we must publicly denounce the abuses that orchestras, and that the police and gendarmerie forces exert on us, in a European country that wants to be democratic and not be under dictatorship and terror, “he said. explained the high prelate.
He also announced that he did not want the right to honor Saint Andrew the Apostle to be trampled on.
“We will not now allow the right to duly honor the Holy Apostle Andrew, the First Call, the Protector of Romania, to be trampled on by those who do not fear God and worship an absurd science, which ignores man in his totality: body, but also soul. What will you do? Will he beat, fine, arrest and execute all those who go to pray in the Monastery Cueva de San Andrés Apóstol, the day of his celebration?!? Will he oppose justice and the application of the law against their own brothers and sisters to achieve their goals? ”said the Archbishop of Tomis.
He recalled that in December 1989 people dissatisfied with abuses of power gathered in Timisoara, at the home of Reformed pastor László Tőkés, and told Prime Minister Ludovic Orban not to underestimate the desire of the people to shout again in the streets of Constanta and other places. of the country “God is with us”.
“In December 1989, people with faith in God, deeply dissatisfied with the abuses of power, gathered in Timisoara around the home of Reformed pastor László Tőkés, who was then being wronged, much less than we wanted. legitimate right to respect our faith and dignity. Do not underestimate the desire of the people to shout again in the streets of Constanza and in other parts of the country “God is with us”, to be able to pray and live freely, without a new dictatorship. An extra touch of wisdom could restore to you and your collaborators in the last hour humanity, faith and the just feeling that it seems that the reasons for the pandemic have overshadowed you, ”said His Holiness Theodosius.
The Archbishop of Thomis conveys at the end of the open letter that he wants God to give the prime minister the right thought, to give the people the freedom to honor God, “so that He can allow you where you think you have gone forever. “.
