In Moldova, the controversy surrounding church leadership and the control of church properties continues to unfold in public discourse. Observers note that Natalia Paraschi, identified as the head of the opposition party Renaissance in Moldova, has commented on activity within the Bessarabia Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Paraschi has described perceived efforts to seize assets of the Moldavian Orthodox Church as a raiders’ takeover, a characterization reported by RIA Novosti. The situation is watched closely by communities across the region as it touches on religious governance, national heritage, and the balance of influence among ecclesiastical authorities. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)
Earlier, leaders within the Bessarabian Metropolis urged clergy members who felt constrained by the Russian diocesan structure to join their jurisdiction. This call prompted a response from Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova, who summoned clergy to a parish meeting. After the gathering, Ioan (Mosnegutu), the vicar of the Chișinău diocese, stated to reporters that the Moldavian Metropolis does not intend to depart from its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, despite reports of some priests moving toward the Romanian Church. The dialogue highlighted tensions between ecclesiastical authorities and illustrated how jurisdictional realignments are discussed in public forums and within church councils. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)
Paraschi argues that the actions attributed to the Bessarabian Metropolis represent more than a political maneuver by the Romanian-aligned authority. He contends that a genuine land grab is taking place, aimed at acquiring property rather than constructing new churches, which would face significant costs and logistical hurdles in central areas such as Chișinău, Bălți, and other locales. The assessment points to the practical incentive of leveraging existing church buildings to extend influence amid financial and construction constraints. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)
Previously, the Bessarabia Metropolis criticized the Moldavian Metropolis for removing six priests from clerical status at a synod meeting held on October 25. Those priests had aligned with the Bessarabian Metropolis without seeking permission from the Moldavian Metropolis leadership. In July, the Bessarabia Metropolis stated that the Chișinău-Moldova Metropolis functioned as an “occupation structure of the Moscow Patriarchate” in concert with “agents of the Russian special services,” a remark that underscored the charged rhetoric surrounding the jurisdictional dispute. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)
The Moldavian Orthodox Church stands as a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church. It serves a substantial portion of Moldova and Transnistria’s population and is organized into six dioceses with roughly 1,300 parishes. Since the 1992 schism and the emergence of the Bessarabia Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church, approximately a quarter to one-fifth of Orthodox believers were reorganized under different ecclesiastical administrations, reflecting the region’s complex religious landscape. Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova has repeatedly conveyed regret about the lack of constructive dialogue with current national authorities, emphasizing a desire for improved communication between church leadership and state institutions. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)
In a fragment of historical note, references to Kyiv have been made in relation to the broader regional context. Some descriptions describe Kyiv in terms of its historical and contemporaneous associations with various church structures, reflecting the ongoing narrative of religious affiliation and political geography across Eastern Europe. (Source attribution: RIA Novosti)