Times are tough for the Moscow-based branch of the Orthodox Church in the Republic of Moldova, which has been criticized by parishioners since the start of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, AFP reported on Sunday in a report provided by Agerpres.

Located 30 kilometers from the capital of the Republic of Moldova, the village of Cimişeni with a population of 2,850 inhabitants, most of whom are Romanians, decided to move to the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Patriarchate.

The idea arose even before the war in Ukraine, but Father Ioan Solonaru was afraid that there would be “quarrels” on this topic. The catalyst was the Kremlin’s offensive, “carried out with the blessing of the Russian Patriarch Kirill,” the priest explains to AFP.

“This struggle between Orthodox brothers outraged the people,” he emphasizes.

The reception of Ukrainian refugees who arrived en masse in the Republic of Moldova also awakened consciousness.

Parishioners “started to tell me that they no longer want to come to St. Cyril’s Church to receive communion,” the 55-year-old priest reported after receiving communion from a parishioner.

50 priests from the Republic of Moldova decided to come under the care of the Romanian Patriarchate

In mid-August, he officially took this step, passing under the care of the Romanian Patriarchate. In total, about 50 priests from the Republic of Moldova decided to do the same, the Bessarabian Metropolis reports.

In this former Soviet republic, which hopes to join the European Union, “nothing connects us to Moscow anymore,” says Ioan Solonaru. “We don’t even have common borders with Russia!”, he adds, saying that he does not understand the nostalgia of some people for the Soviet Union.

In a recent letter, Metropolitan Volodymyr, head of the Moscow-affiliated Metropolitanate of Moldova, expressed concern about the departure of priests and the “marginalization” of his Church “due to belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate, which is perceived by society as an outpost.” Kremlin”.

“The aspiring Moldovan people are getting closer to Romania,” Metropolitan Volodymyr expresses his concern, asking to find a solution to “get out of the crisis,” continues AFP.

“We are not hand in hand with those who promote these actions”

After that, a meeting of the highest prelates took place, which decided to preserve the current status of the Church.

“We don’t feel in danger,” says Bishop Ioan de Soroka, also expressing regret at the decision of some priests. “These lost souls must come to their senses,” he said.

As for the war against Ukraine, he denies any support. “We do not go hand in hand with those who facilitate these actions,” affirms Bishop Ioan, but without directly condemning the actions of Patriarch Kirill.

The Moscow branch claims 1,350 parishes in the Republic of Moldova, a far cry from the Romanian branch, which has just over 200.

“We had to start from scratch after our reactivation in 1992,” after the declaration of independence of the Republic of Moldova, explains Bessarabian Metropolis Press Secretary Constantin Olaru.

“Those who want (to join us) will be welcomed with open arms,” ​​he adds, assessing this trend as inevitable, considering that the Republic of Moldova is preparing to start negotiations on joining the EU. “This is a pro-European signal,” Konstantin Olaru emphasizes.

The whole society should unite, including the Church, Maya Sandu urges

A similar message was sent by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. “How can the Russian Church support the war and the killing of innocent people? (…) In these conditions, the Church cannot stand aside and pretend that it does not see what is happening,” Maia Sandu reacted in November on public radio.

“The whole society should unite, including the Church,” for the sake of “peace,” “on the path of European integration,” urged Maya Sandu.

The war also caused a split in the Ukrainian religious scene. According to the text adopted in October by the Kyiv parliament, the once most popular church associated with Moscow, which has lost its influence in recent years, is subject to a ban.

Now only the Ukrainian branch remains, declared independent by the Moscow Patriarchate in 2019 after centuries of Russian tutelage.

For the first time this year, the Ukrainian church will celebrate Christmas on December 25 – the same as the Romanian Orthodox and Catholics – and not on January 7, as it was until now, which is a testimony to the “powerful revival of the Ukrainian nation.”