Moscow, which had institutions, money, political influence and decades of advantage, has nevertheless failed to turn Orthodoxy in the Republic of Moldova into a monopoly. Despite the pressure, the Metropolis of Bessarabia continues to exist.
Religious affairs commentator Mihai Isac writes about this in his column for Cotidianul.
According to him, the existence of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in Moldova is no longer something to be requested from Moscow, but a right that has been won.
“The Metropolis of Bessarabia has survived the refusal to recognize it, the privileges granted to the structure subordinate to Moscow, sanctions against clergy, political pressure and influence campaigns. At 34 years old, its existence stands as testimony to freedom of religion and civic sovereignty,” the author emphasizes.
He recalled that the Chișinău authorities refused for years to register the Metropolis of Bessarabia, while the Moscow Patriarchate’s metropolis enjoyed official recognition.
“The first instrument was the state of the Republic of Moldova. For years, the Chișinău authorities refused to register the Metropolis of Bessarabia, while the Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova, under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, enjoyed official recognition. The case went all the way to Strasbourg. On December 13, 2001, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Republic of Moldova had violated freedom of religion and the right to an effective remedy. Following that adverse judgment, the Metropolis of Bessarabia was registered on July 30, 2002,” Isac writes.
He cites examples of Russian interference in the religious life of the Republic of Moldova, including how pro-Russian politicians have used conflicts not to defend the faith, but to protect the Kremlin’s influence.
“…we saw the same method that Russia has used throughout the post-Soviet space, namely the instrumentalization of the church to maintain political, identity and information control,” the author notes.
He emphasizes that the existence of the Metropolis of Bessarabia demonstrates that Orthodoxy in the Republic of Moldova does not belong to Moscow and that a believer can remain Orthodox without accepting the jurisdiction of the Russian Patriarchate.
Earlier, we reported that some clergy of the Metropolis of Moldova, which is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, would like to join the Romanian Orthodox Church but are hesitant because they fear possible persecution. Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia said this.
As LF reported, Russian authorities are using widespread bribery of voters and local Russian Orthodox Church priests in an effort to establish control over Moldova. According to the investigation, Russian Orthodox priests serving in Moldova were recruited, among other things, for propaganda purposes.
As LF reported, more than 800 churches in Moldova classified as historical monuments could be returned to state ownership. These are churches belonging to the Metropolis of Moldova, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Culture Minister Cristian Jardan announced this.
In Moldova, the Liberal Party called on parliament to adopt a law requiring the Metropolis of Chișinău and Moldova, which is under the Moscow Patriarchate, to permanently sever its ties with the Russian Church. Otherwise, the party argues, the religious organization should be outlawed because it serves as an instrument of influence for the Russian Federation.
Earlier, we reported that the Russian Orthodox Church had once again alleged “pressure by the authorities of Ukraine, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on canonical church structures.”
Will the Russian Orthodox Church manage to preserve its ecclesiastical influence in Moldova by distorting the information environment and changing the country’s political course? LF’s analysis of the issue is available at the link.
