Believers face up to 3 years in prison for defending their church in Moldova
Footage of the conflict at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Grinăuți, July 2025. Photo: TV8.md
On November 4, 2025, a court in Moldova began proceedings against six residents of Grinăuți, Rîșcani District. The parishioners are accused of attacking a priest and his family after a dispute in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, reports Moldovan TV channel TV8.md.
The incident occurred on July 15, 2025, when the parish rector, Fr. Constantin Turturianu, announced his intention to move the community from the canonical Metropolis of Moldova to the Bessarabian Metropolis, which is subordinate to the Romanian Patriarchate. After the majority of parishioners voted against the transfer, Fr. Constantin refused to leave the church, provoking a confrontation.
At the parish meeting, nine people voted in favor of the transfer, 267 opposed it, and eight abstained. Despite the clear outcome, Fr. Constantin refused to vacate the temple, which led to the conflict with the faithful.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the six accused – aged between 38 and 59 – are charged with hooliganism. They face a fine of up to 52,500 lei (about €2,700), community service, or imprisonment for up to three years.
Local parishioners consider the charges unjust and see the case as an act of pressure against the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, which remains under the canonical jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova appealed to the Vice President of the United States for help.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.