CHIŞINĂU (Imedia) - The Russian Orthodox Church Synod decided during a meeting in Sankt Petersburg on March 5 to appoint a new bishop for Transnistria.

The new religious authority's name is Savva (Volkov). He will be responsible for Tiraspol and Dubasari. Savva has until now been a bishop for Krasnogosrk (Russia) and a patriarchal vicar.

Archbishop Iustinian (Ovcinicov), Transnistria's former religious representative, has been appointed as responsible for the Russian Patriarchy's parishes in the United States. He is now Archbishop for Naro-Fominsk and a patriarchal vicar.

Iustinian led the Tiraspol and Dubasari Bishopric, which is part of the Moldovan Metropolitan (under the aegis of the Russian Patriarchy) since it was founded in 1998.

Commentary:

Iulian Proca: This decision should not affect the Moldovan Metropolitan too much

Iulian Proca, an expert on religious issues, says that „this change was officially motivated by the restructuring of the Central Church Department within the Russian Patriarchy in order to make it more workable."

„We do not know what the consequences of the decision will be but, things will most likely continue as they have until now, without spectacular evolutions.

The Dubasari and Tiraspol  bishop will remain a member of the Moldovan Metropolitan Synod [Imedia: within the Russian Patriarchy] and I know that priests are not expecting major changes.

So the Tiraspol and Dubasari Bishopric will remain exactly as it has been until now, and time will tell if this change had any motivations," Mr. Proca adds.

The expert stresses that „at first sight, this decision should not affect the Moldovan Metropolitan too much."

Petru Bogatu: Archbishop Iustinian has a rich experience in promoting Russian ecclesiastical interests abroad

Petru Bogatu, a political commentator, says that „considering the latest evolutions in Russia and in Moldova, as well as the fact that Russian Patriarch Kyrill is getting extremely involved in the promotion of Russian orthodoxy in the post-Soviet space and in every zone of strategic interest for the Russian Orthodox Church, and even for the Kremlin, we could assume that removing Archbishop Iustinian could have a political significance."

„We know for sure that there are tensions within the Russian Orthodox Church on the left shore of the Nistru [Imedia: a reference to Transnistria] and the Russian Orthodox Church on the right shore of the Nistru. So that could be one of the reasons. On the other hand, we know that the Moscow Patriarchy, after uniting with the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, is trying to consolidate its positions in the West, so it would not be surprising if transferring Archbishop Iustinian to the U.S. could have that purpose. Iustinian has a rich experience in promoting Russian ecclesiastical interests abroad," Mr. Bogatu adds.

He stresses that Archbishop Iustinian is „a detestable person here considering the political statements he has repeatedly made, and Russia might be looking to promote a more subtle policy here considering the EuroAtlantic expansion in the Balkans, especially in Romania and Bulgaria."

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PS Savva (Volkov) was born in 1958 in Mordovia (Russia), in a family of workers.

He began his studies at the Moscow Theological Seminary in 1976, which he graduated in 1980.

He became a student of the Theological Academy in Moscow. In 1982, Savva joined the Soviet Army. Between 1982 and 1984 he served at the nuclear polygon in Semipalatinsk (which is in Kazakhstan today). He returned to the Theological Academy in Moscow in 1984, which he graduated in 1986.

He became a monk in that same year.

He was appointed to head the parish of the Resurection of the Lord Church in Moscow in 1990.

In 1995, Savva became Krasnogorsk bishop, a patriarchal vicar, and head of the department for ties with the army and the security services within the Russian Orthodox Church.