Hierarchs of Romania: All of Moldova belongs to the Romanian Patriarchate

Hierarchs of the Romanian Patriarchate in Iași. Photo: mitropoliabasarabiei.md

On June 19, 2025, representatives of the Romanian Patriarchate stated that the entire territory of historical Moldova falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The joint meeting of the Synod members of the Moldovan and Bukovinian Metropolis and representatives of the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Patriarchate in Iași is considered by the Romanian Patriarchate to be “especially important in the context in which, over time, political borders have tried to fracture the spiritual and identity unity of Romanians on both banks of the Prut”.

For the first time in a long while, Romanian hierarchs from Iași, Huși, Suceava, Roman, Bacău, as well as from Chișinău, Bălți, and Cahul are reuniting today under the same synodal umbrella. This, according to representatives of the Romanian Church, is "a living testimony of a continuity that transcends any occupation, manipulation or foreign interference in the life of the Church".

The final statement said that "this moment of communion and joint responsibility strengthens the canonical, liturgical, and missionary connection between the Metropolis of Moldova and Bukovina and the Metropolis of Bessarabia, confirming the fact that all of historical Moldova, on both sides of the Prut, belongs to the Romanian Orthodox Church, the only autocephalous Church that legitimately, canonically, and responsibly shepherds in this territory."

"Through this moment of communion and co-responsibility, the canonical, liturgical and missionary bond between the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Bukovina and the Metropolitanate of Bessarabia is strengthened, reaffirming the fact that the entire historical Moldova, from the left and right of the Prut, belongs to the Romanian Orthodox Church, the only autocephalous Church that shepherds legitimately, canonically and responsibly in this space," the document reads.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that a new bishop of the Metropolis of Bessarabia was officially presented in Chișinău.

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