Explanations and Clarifications of Ecclesiastical History and the Deontology of the Ukrainian Issue (Part 10)

Archbishop Petru of Bessarabia

...continued from part nine.

* Let us proceed to some of their other movements, which show a purely political and secular sense of the mystery of the Church. They recently awarded Irinej of Bačka of the Serbian Patriarchate the title of Honorary Doctor at the Theological Academy of St. Petersburg. They have published numerous photographs on the internet, insisting in every way to influence the public opinion in Greece that they also have theological academies, which are accepted by the other Churches, and that they have something that measures a mature scientific theological education in their country.

* The bearers of the Muscovite ecclesiastical policy (from 1948 onwards, as the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos writes) do not hesitate to cooperate even with Catholic priests. Initially, the Minister of Foreign Affairs presented a distinguished Catholic theologian clergyman at the Theological Academy of Moscow as a distinguished scientist (until this point, I present no blame), and the next day at the Divine Liturgy he was received as a protopriest who co-liturgized with Orthodox clerics. In other words, they promote advanced practices in inter-Christian relations without fundamental barriers.

Saint Gabriel (Banulescu-Bodoni), Archbishop of Chisinau and Hotin (+ 1821)

St. Gabriel Banulescu-Bodoni (Feast Day - March 30)

Born in 1746 at Bistrita, Transylvania to a family originating from Campulung in Moldavia, Banulescu studied at the Kiev Theological Academy (1771–1773), then at the Greek-language academy on the Island of Patmos, Smyrna and the Athonite Academy in Vatopaidi (1773–1786). At Patmos, he befriended Nikephoros Theotokis, a Greek cleric and enlightenment figure, with whom he taught at the Princely Academy of Iasi in 1776.

The Story Behind the Infant That Died During Baptism

Below is an update to the story published in July 2010 titled "Death of Infant After Baptism in Moldova".

November 3, 2013

Dogma.gr

For the second time this year a video which shows the baptism of an infant that a short while later expired is circling the Greek internet causing goosebumps to anyone who sees it.

This is a video that was shot three years ago in a village in Moldova. Specifically, in July 2010, the priest Valentin Taraloungka was celebrating the baptism of an infant about a month in age.

A half hour after the baptism the baby died.

The priest appeared in court in November 2011 where he was sentenced for manslaughter with 18 months imprisonment.

Being sure that he was not the perpetrator of the death of the infant, the priest continued to claim his innocence.

At the trial that followed, having been in prison for four and a half months, the priest was acquitted.

A closer analysis of forensic findings proved that eventually the baby did not drown. The child was suffering from a lung disease unknown to the family, which was the cause of his death.

The priest was released on April 6 last year.

Translated by John Sanidopoulos.