How a Moscow priest from Khust can cause a quarrel between Ukraine and Romania

Exclusive. Romanian speech by priest of the UOC MP Chyprian Biletsky: spiritual diplomacy or a challenge to Ukraine's security?

When political intrigues are unfolding under the cover of “spiritual unity,” and a pastoral word turns into a diplomatic declaration, then it is worth taking a closer look at who is standing behind the altar. The Romanian speech of the priest of the UOC (MP) Chyprian Biletsky in the parliament of a neighboring state became not just an episode of church life, but a symptom of a disturbing process: the replacement of the gospel sermon with a geopolitical message. What is presented from the outside as “caring for communities” may in fact turn out to be a subtle attempt to divide the spiritual space of Ukraine under foreign flags.

On October 17, 2025, within the walls of the Romanian Parliament, during the annual forum dedicated to issues of Romanian identity and diaspora, a speech was made that could have far-reaching consequences for Ukraine.

Priest Father Chyprian (or Cyprian) Biletsky, representative of the Romanian-speaking Solotvyn Deanery Khust Eparchy of the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate), called for the “return of the Orthodox Romanian communities of Ukraine under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church.” At first glance, it is an initiative of spiritual unity. But upon deeper analysis, it is a dangerous signal that could open the door to external influence on the Ukrainian religious space.

Priest Chyprian Biletsky represents a family that has been serving in Romanian-speaking parishes of Transcarpathia for several generations. His father is Archpriest Doryn Biletsky, his grandfather is Stepan Biletsky, all three are connected with the Solotvyn deanery of the Khust eparchy of the UOC MP..

(official website of the Khust Eparchy of the UOC-MP)

According to church sources, members of this family have Romanian passports, which indicates dual citizenship. This opens up opportunities for unhindered visits to Romania, co-serving in the churches of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and participating in church life there. "Such connections are not a problem as long as they do not cross the line of spiritual communication and do not become a channel of political or intelligence influence," notes Kyiv-based religious scholar Oleksandr Martyniuk.

It is no less significant that the speech of Chyprian Biletsky, according to information from church circles, was agreed upon with the leadership of the Khust Eparchy of the UOC-MP, which is headed by Metropolitan Mark Petrovtsiy. citizen of the Russian Federation.

It was this metropolitan who, in March 2022, signed the infamous decree No. 76, which allowed the Romanian-speaking communities of the UOC-MP to pass under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Patriarchate.

Thus, Biletskyi actually represented not only his community, but also the position of the diocesan leadership, creating a precedent for parallel church diplomacy outside Ukrainian jurisdiction.

It is significant that on his Facebook page, Chyprian Biletsky shares photos with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Kirill Gundyaev — the same church figure who openly blesses Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Experts in the field of information security regard Biletsky's speech as an information-political signal that can be used in the geopolitical games of third parties — primarily Russia. "Russian propaganda has long used church themes to create the illusion of a split in Ukraine. The topic of 'returning to historical churches' could be an ideal pretext for a new wave of disinformation," says information operations specialist Andriy Savchenko.

In fact, Moscow may gain additional leverage through the activation of Romanian religious structures in Ukraine, under the guise of "protecting the rights of Romanian-speaking believers."

Biletsky's statements about "the return of Romanian parishes to Bucharest" have already caused concern among experts on interethnic relations.

Such statements can provoke tension in the border regions - in Transcarpathia, Bukovina, in the Odessa region. The formation of the idea of ​​"ethnic church territories" directly contradicts the principles of spiritual sovereignty of Ukraine and can become a catalyst for conflicts.

It is especially noteworthy that Father Chyprian Biletsky, despite his anti-Ukrainian statements, continues to work in a state institution, the Solotvyn Inclusive Center, as a practical psychologist, receiving a salary from the Ukrainian budget.

The question arises: what exactly does he broadcast to children and families during classes? And do the Ministry of Education and the center's management have information about his public political statements that contradict Ukrainian legislation and national interests?

The situation surrounding the Biletsky family shows how thin the line is between spiritual diplomacy and political interference. "Today, the church sphere is not only about faith, but also about statehood. Whoever controls the spiritual map of the region shapes the consciousness of future generations," emphasizes religious analyst Serhiy Demchenko.

Ukraine has every right to protect its spiritual space as a component of national security. Speeches like Biletsky's are not theological discussions, but a test of Ukrainian society's resilience to external interference.

Newssky continues to monitor the situation. in the Khust diocese of the UOC (MP), the reaction of state bodies, church leadership, and educational structures to the actions of Fr. Chyprian Biletsky. The Ukrainian spiritual space cannot be an arena for the implementation of external political scenarios — regardless of the banner under which they are hidden.

The irony of fate is that Fr. Cyprian, calling for a "return to the jurisdiction of Bucharest," himself seems to have long lost his spiritual affiliation — not to the Church, but to conscience. His "peacemaking" initiatives are reminiscent of the case when a wolf disguised as a sheep talks about the benefits of common grazing. His speech in the Romanian parliament became a moment of self-revelation for him: not the mission of a shepherd, but the role of a courier of other people's interests.

Perhaps “Father” Biletsky sincerely believes that he is serving the “unity of fraternal peoples.” But while he travels between two states, blessing foreign policies, Ukrainian believers should remember: not everyone who speaks the language of the temple speaks in the name of Christ.

Because spiritual betrayal is the most dangerous of all, because it hides under the cassock, because "the cassock is not an indulgence," as Vasyl Malyuk rightly noted, and let us add from ourselves that it is not from human laws, nor from God's irreversible judgment.

Sandor Rud and Lajos Nagy (Beregovo)