His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia received Romanian President Nicușor Dan on Thursday at the Metropolitan Residence in Chișinău.
The meeting took place during the Romanian president’s visit marking the 35th anniversary of the Republic of Moldova’s proclamation of independence.
The delegation welcomed by Metropolitan Antonie included Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, Romania’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova; Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; and other officials and representatives of Romanian state institutions.
Metropolitan Antonie presented President Nicușor Dan with the main developments of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in recent years and the results achieved.
Strengthening the Metropolis of Bessarabia
Metropolitan Antonie expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the authorities in Bucharest towards strengthening the Metropolis institutionally.
Numerous projects involving the construction and restoration of churches and the development of parish communities have been carried out with financial support from the Romanian Government through the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs, as well as the continued support of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Antonie also outlined the challenges the Metropolis faces in the Republic of Moldova. These include recovering the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s historic property confiscated during the Soviet occupation, constructing and restoring places of worship, developing educational and social-philanthropic institutions, and training clergy.
Deepening cooperation
Metropolitan Antonie also emphasised the importance of deepening cooperation with the authorities in Bucharest and Chișinău so that the Metropolis of Bessarabia can fulfil its mission in conditions of dignity, stability and institutional equality.
President Nicușor Dan thanked the Metropolitan for the warm welcome and spoke of the joy he experiences whenever he visits the Republic of Moldova.
The Romanian president expressed Romania’s support for Romanian communities in Bessarabia and the willingness of institutions in Bucharest to remain close to the Metropolis of Bessarabia, enabling the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Moldova to carry out its pastoral, educational and social mission with full responsibility.
Metropolitan Antonie presented the Romanian president with an icon of St Alexander, Priest-Martyr of Bessarabia, while President Nicușor Dan presented the Metropolitan with a Romanian tricolour.
President Nicușor Dan also visited the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia on Thursday.
Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia
