On Thursday, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia delivered a message marking the 107th anniversary of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania, emphasizing God’s work in the history of Romanians beyond the Prut River and the courage of their forebears.
“Union, beloved brothers and sisters, is not a closed chapter, but a sacred work that must be carried forward,” said Metropolitan Petru.
A Providential Union
“Today, as we mark 107 years since the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, we give thanks to God for this providential gift, for the courage of our forebears, and for the strength to remain united in spirit, in faith, and in the same identity.”
The hierarch stressed that the union was not born of political interests or diplomatic opportunity, “but from a deep sense of belonging—of language, of blood, and of soul.”
Bessarabia, he affirmed, “returned home not as a conquered province, but as a prodigal daughter who had endured years of suffering, yet never forgot her mother. She came with wounds, but also with hope—with longing, but also with unwavering faith.”
“It was the beginning of a spiritual renewal: in schools, in parishes, in liturgical life, and in cultural work. The Metropolis of Bessarabia blossomed then through worthy people—confessing bishops and priests, and faithful who kept the flame of Romanian identity and Orthodoxy burning even in times of hardship.”
Union Must Be Continued
His Eminence underlined that the union is not a historical moment to be archived, but a living mission:
“Union, beloved brothers and sisters, is not a closed chapter, but a sacred work that must be carried forward. It is built today through the mission of each parish, through schools and care homes supported by our priests, through the involvement of young people in church life, through every child who learns the Lord’s Prayer in Romanian, and through every candle lit for the Romanian people.”
Reaffirming the spiritual and cultural mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia within the Romanian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Petru emphasized that borders cannot break the unity of faith and nation:
“The Metropolis of Bessarabia, a living and historic part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, stands today as proof that unity is not shattered by borders—it is strengthened through prayer, sacrifice, and service. Every church built, every book printed, every act of mercy is a testimony to this continuity.”
“Let us pray for our nation. Let us be worthy of our forebears’ sacrifice. Let us labor in the field of unity and the Gospel with hope, with joy, and with faith. And then, Bessarabia will remain not only a part of Romania but a part of the heart of every Romanian everywhere,” the metropolitan concluded.
Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia
