Over 60 parishes of Orthodox Church of Moldova join Bessarabian Metropolis

Temple of the Orthodox Church of Molodova. Photo: CP in Moldova

Over 60 parishes of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, have transferred to the Metropolis of Bessarabia of the Romanian Orthodox Church. According to the Orthodox Times publication, this shift reflects growing tensions and a desire for alignment with the Romanian Mother Church amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

One of the most recent cases was the transition of the parish of St. Alexander of Svir in the city of Cricova. Parishioners celebrated their return to the fold of the Romanian Patriarchate, reports Orthodox Times.

The parish priest, Father Andrei Percic, explained the decision: “We feel Romanian. Since the war in Ukraine began, we realized that something was wrong in the church where we all served. God does not love war.”

Father Igor Chelea, a priest at the Church of St. John the Theologian in Roșcani, also stated: “We convened an ecclesiastical council and informed the village about our decision. Everything was done legally. The Metropolis of Bessarabia welcomed us with brotherly love.”

Metropolitan Petru (Păduraru) of the Metropolis of Bessarabia expressed confidence that any sanctions imposed by the Orthodox Church of Moldova on clergy who have joined the Romanian Patriarchate are invalid. According to him, "the Russian Church is not recognized here in Bessarabia. We are Romanians, all of us, and we must belong to our nation’s church."

As reported by UOJ, Moldovan politician and leader of the opposition "Victory" bloc, Ilan Shor, stated that the President of Moldova would ban the Orthodox Church after the elections.

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