The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander (Baltaga) of Bessarabia was commemorated on Friday for the first time since the local proclamation of his canonisation, in the “Saint Nicholas” Church in Călărași, the Republic of Moldova — the parish where the saint served for 54 years.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, together with His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, and a large assembly of clergy from both banks of the Prut River.
After the service, Bishop Veniamin read the Tomos of canonisation, followed by the presentation of the saint’s icon for veneration and the chanting of the troparion dedicated to him.
Gratitude for the canonisation of a Bessarabian martyr
Metropolitan Petru expressed thanks to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for supporting the canonisation of this great servant of the Church and the nation, “who died out of love for his people, identity, and faith, always standing by his flock.”
“We thank His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, who helped us organise the canonisation and today’s celebration, the Divine Liturgy in honour of Saint Alexander Baltaga, in the very church where he served,” the Metropolitan of Bessarabia emphasised.
Bishop Veniamin recalled moments from the saint’s life and martyrdom: “He was fully aware of the atheist-communist danger approaching from the East,” the hierarch said.
Accused of being a priest and a Romanian
“In 1940, on August 31, he was interrogated during the Divine Liturgy here, in the church. He ended up in the cellars of the NKVD in Chișinău and died in prison in Kazan. Among the charges brought against him, one was that he was a priest, and the other that he was Romanian and had voted for the Union with the Motherland,” Bishop Veniamin noted.
The event was attended by descendants of Saint Alexander from Bessarabia, elderly locals who had known him or were baptised by him, members of the Romanian Parliament, representatives of central and local authorities, as well as a group of priests from the Iași I Deanery, led by Dean Florin Călugăru.
As a sign of gratitude, several priests from the Călărași Deanery received commemorative distinctions, as did priests from the Iași I Deanery, twinned with parishes in Călărași.
Officials, representatives of public institutions, and parishioners actively involved in church life were also honoured.
Photo: Facebook / Metropolis of Bessarabia
