Over 60 parishes in the Metropolis of Moldova, under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow, have decided to join the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is part of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This shift in allegiance is a response to increasing tensions and a desire to align with the Romanian Mother Church, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine.
Romanian media reports that parishioners in Cricova, Moldova, recently celebrated their return to the Romanian Orthodox Church. The community marked this transition with a special service at the Church of “Saint Alexander Svir,” attended by Metropolitan Peter of Bessarabia.
Father Andrei Percic, the priest of the temple, expressed, “We feel a strong connection to Romania. The conflict in Ukraine made us realize that there were issues within the church we belonged to. We believe that God does not condone war.” Similarly, Fr. Igor Chelea, priest of the Church of “Saint John the Theologian” in Roskani, shared, “After holding an ecclesiastical council and informing the village, we made our decision to switch. The Metropolis of Bessarabia welcomed us warmly and legally.”
In response, the Metropolis of Moldova announced that it would impose sanctions on these priests, a decision that was contested by the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Metropolitan Petros of Bessarabia stated, “Any sanctions imposed by the Russian Church on the clergy of the Metropolis of Bessarabia are not valid. The Russian Church does not hold authority in Bessarabia. We are all Romanians and should be part of our nation’s church.”
The Metropolis of Bessarabia now includes more than 200 parishes, with over 60 priests having left the Metropolis of Moldova since the conflict in Ukraine began. This shift signifies a significant realignment within the Orthodox community in the region.