THE RESIGNATION OF THE METROPOLITAN VENIAMIN COSTACHE.

THE REIGN OF MIHAIL STURDZA REPRESENTED, FROM SEVERAL POINT OF VIEW, A PARTICULAR STAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOLDAVIAN CHURCH. THE CHANGES THAT THE ORGANIC REGULATION AND THE FOLOWING LEGISLATION HAVE MADE, STRENGTHENED STATE CONTROL OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CHURCH INCOME. THE INTERFERENCE OF THE STATE AND MICHAEL STURDZA HIMSELF IN CHURCH AFFAIRS WAS, IN FACT, A CHARACTERISTIC OF HIS ENTIRE REIGN. MIHAIL STURDZA'S DRAFT LAWS REGARDING THE INCOME OF THE CHURCH, THE UNFAIR ESTATE EXCHANGES IMPOSED TO METROPOLITAN, AND OTHER ABUSES, HAVE LED TO A STRONG TACIT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE METROPOLITAN AND THE RULER. UNABLE TO OPPOSE MIHAIL STURDZA, WHO WANTED THE PROMULGATION OF A LAW FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHURCH INCOME, THE METROPOLITAN VENIAMIN COSTACHE RESIGNED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]