The hierarchs of the Metropolis of Bessarabia have expressed their desire for the Romanian Patriarch to visit the Republic of Moldova. This could mark the first visit of a Romanian Patriarch beyond the Prut River.
The invitation was formalized following the Metropolitan Synod held Thursday in Chişinău.
The Synod expressed its intention to officially invite His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church to make a historic visit to the Republic of Moldova.
Such a visit would be the first by a Romanian Patriarch to Bessarabia, highlighting and strengthening the spiritual and identity ties between the two banks of the Prut River, according to the press release issued after the Synod meeting.
The invitation comes in the historical context of the Centennial anniversaries of both the Romanian Patriarchate and the autonomous Metropolis of Bessarabia.
Patriarch Daniel’s Role in Revitalizing Bessarabia
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel played a pivotal role in reactivating the Metropolis of Bessarabia, supporting this effort in the 1990s while serving as Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina.
As Patriarch of Romania, His Beatitude revitalized the dioceses beyond the Prut River by organizing episcopal elections and supporting the reconstruction of diocesan centres and cathedrals in Chişinău, Bălți, and Cahul.
Patriarch Daniel also encouraged neighbouring dioceses in Romania to collaborate with those in the Republic of Moldova to assist the faithful in Bessarabia.
Additionally, several Romanian saints who lived in Bessarabia were canonized during his patriarchal tenure. These include Metropolitan Joseph the Merciful (Naniescu) in 2017, Bishop Dionysius (Erhan) in 2018, and others such as the martyr priest Alexander Baltaga, Hieromonk Heraclius Flocea, and Archimandrite Sofian (Boghiu), canonized in 2024.
“We assure all the Orthodox faithful of the Republic of Moldova that the Romanian Orthodox Church, as a spiritual mother who never abandons her children, through the worthy hierarchs and priests of the three Bessarabian dioceses, will continue to be at their side, supporting them both through her permanent prayers and through the support of concrete pastoral, social-philanthropic and cultural activities in the Metropolis of Bessarabia,” Patriarch Daniel affirmed in 2022, marking three decades since the Metropolis’ reactivation.
The Romanian Patriarchate also significantly supports the Metropolis of Bessarabia through financial measures. Moldovan clergy receive the same salaries as their Romanian counterparts, as they are employees of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate promotes the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s activities and events nationally and internationally.
No Romanian Patriarch has visited the Metropolis of Bessarabia to date. The most notable recent visit beyond the Prut was in 2022, when Metropolitan Teofan, representing Patriarch Daniel, consecrated the diocesan chapel in Cahul.
Invited by the Prime Minister of Moldova
Prime Minister Dorin Recean also invited the Romanian Patriarch to the Republic of Moldova in the summer of 2023.
During his attendance at the celebration of the Patriarch’s birthday, the Moldovan Prime Minister told His Beatitude, “You are awaited at home, in Bessarabia, in Chişinău. There, we need an authentic Romanian spirit, one that seeks you and continuously wishes to be part of the Mother Church.”
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu