Regarding the situation in the Metropolis of Bessarabia, we wish to clarify that on 27 May 2026, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru, Archbishop of Chișinău and Metropolitan of Bessarabia, submitted his request to retire from the ministry of Archbishop and Metropolitan due to age, health considerations, and for the good of the Church.
The request will be presented for approval during the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s working session on 3–4 June 2026.
In this context, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has appointed His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan, Archbishop of Iași and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, as Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Chișinău and the Metropolis of Bessarabia until the statutory election of a new Archbishop of Chișinău and Metropolitan of Bessarabia.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Photo: Basilica.ro files
