His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met on Monday with Igor Grosu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, at the Metropolitan Residence in Chișinău.
Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Father Gabriel-Andrei Gherasă, Administrative Vicar of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, and Archdeacon Iurie Saganovschi, Secretary of the Metropolitan Office, also attended the meeting.
The gathering provided an opportunity for an open and cordial dialogue about the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s active role in Moldovan society’s spiritual, social, and cultural life.
The Romanian Orthodox Church’s significant contribution to this historical region was emphasized, particularly its promotion of moral values, preservation of spiritual identity, and support of those in need through nationwide philanthropic activities.
Restoration of Historic Churches
A key point of discussion was the recently announced initiative by the Parliament President to launch a national program for restoring places of worship designated as historical monuments, with an allocated budget of 20 million lei.
Metropolitan Petru welcomed the initiative, underlining the importance of preserving and highlighting religious heritage not only as an expression of faith but also as a living testimony to the nation’s spiritual and cultural identity.
His Eminence also reiterated the ongoing efforts of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, supported by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Romanian state, to regain ownership of a building historically belonging to the Metropolis and to have it transferred free of charge.
This initiative aims to restore historical justice and facilitate the dignified conduct of church, educational, cultural, and social activities, reaffirming public commitments made by authorities in Chișinău on this matter.
Church-State Cooperation
After the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru expressed his gratitude to His Excellency for the visit, the openness to dialogue, and the attention shown to the Church’s needs and perspectives.
He also expressed confidence that the closeness and collaboration between the Metropolis of Bessarabia and state institutions will continue to strengthen through concrete actions in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility for the identity and values of the Romanian people in Bessarabia.
“We hope that this good understanding and institutional cooperation will bear lasting fruits for society and provide younger generations with solid reference points inspired by faith, culture, and the awareness of belonging to the same nation,” His Eminence concluded.
Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia
