[Documents/Docheader.htm]Old Calendar Church
Written question No 434 to the Committee of MinistersDoc. 10275
16 September 2004Reply from the Committee of Ministers
I. Written Question No. 434 by Mr Stepaniuc (Doc. 9954)
Considering that the fate of the Eastern Romanian Orthodox Church also called the OldCalendarChurch (some confuse the OldCalendarChurch with the OldRitualChurch, whose believers are usually Lipovenians who live in the Danube region on the south of Romania) is a tragic one,
Noting that, separated by force in 1924 from the so-called Official Church, through introduction of the Gregorian calendar, the old calendar believers – who did not accept the introduction of the Gregorian calendar - were forced to leave their churches and monasteries and continued to profess as apostles, were equally hunted and exterminated by the interwar governments, by communist authorities after the Second World War and by the Ceausescu's totalitarian regime. Those who survived built places of worship. Thus, nowadays, the Old Calendar Church has over 130 churches and monasteries. The Old Calendar churches are built almost in every district of Romania, and two of them are located in the capital of the country. The resistance symbol of the old calendar believers, their spiritual centre, is the Slatioara Monastery in Suciava district where relics of St. Glicherie Marturisitorul martyr, former leader of the old calendar church believers resistance, who was sentenced to death in 1936, are located. The residence of Archbishop and Patriarch Vlasie is at the Slatioara Monastery, which was demolished by the authorities and rebuilt after by monks in 1947. He continues to fight the injustices that have been done and continue to be done by authorities and the Official Church. Between 1924 and the present day the OldCalendarChurch has not been registered in Romania as a cult,
Mr Stepaniuc
To ask the Committee of Ministers,
What will the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe do in order to speed up the registration of the OldCalendarChurch as a cult?
II. Reply by the Committee of Ministers
1. Mr Stepaniuc is correct in observing that the OldCalendarChurch has in the past been the object of persecution, including under the former regime prior to 1989. However, since the return to a democratic society, it has enjoyed full respect of its existence as a religious denomination.
2. It should be noted that the Constitution of Romania guarantees freedom of conscience and religion and provides for the separation of church and state. Under the Constitution and of the relevant international agreements by which Romania is bound therefore, the believers of the Old Calendar Church are free to practice their religion. The 1992 census indicated that 32,228 people declared themselves to be members of this Church.
3. Very shortly after the return to democracy in Romania, on 19 February 1990, the Court of First Instance of Suceava granted legal personality to the Church as a religious association called the “Organisation of the Believers of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Romania” with all the rights recognised by Romanian law (decision No. 1000). On 5 March 2003, following a decision by the Holy Synod of the Church under the leadership of the Metropolitan and Archbishop Vlasie, the Court of First Instance of Falticeni (Suceva District) registered the change of name to “The Old Calendar Church of Romania”.
4. The Church now numbers 110 parishes (compared to 30 in 1989) and 20 monasteries and convents with 500 monks and nuns. It enjoys possession of its property without interference. It may freely develop and maintain cooperation with related churches such as the Old Calendar Church of Greece, the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA and the Metropolitan Church of Chisinau and Moldova.
5. With regard to registration as a religious denomination, the Committee of Ministers has been informed that an application has been made to the competent ministry but the procedure has been delayed pending the adoption of relevant new legislation. The Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations of Romania is currently drafting the Act on Religious Freedom. The Ministry intends to organise a debate with international experts – including the Venice Commission – on the draft law.
6. However, it has been assured that the resulting delay has no effect on the Church’s right to enjoy legal personality, to hold property, to conduct international relations and in general to function as a religious association in accordance with the provisions of Romanian law. The Old Calendar Church of Romania enjoys the same religious facilities as any other religious association or foundation, including exemption from tax on religious buildings and imports and granting of authorisation for building religious premises with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations. The registration procedure will be completed as soon as circumstances allow.