Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia and more than 100 clergy gathered on Sunday to pray for families at the statue of St Stephen the Great in central Chișinău during a family march, “Rooted in Tradition”, organised by the Archdiocese of Chișinău. They were joined by approximately 1,000 faithful.
His Eminence prayed for God’s blessing upon families, for love and mutual understanding between spouses, for the upbringing of children and for peace in the home.
The prayers also included those living alone, widows and orphans, as well as people facing illness, hardship and infirmity.
Participants also offered thanksgiving to God for the blessings bestowed upon families and communities.
From the statue of the holy prince and defender of Christianity, participants proceeded along Stephen the Great and Holy Boulevard, with more families joining the procession along the way.
At the front of the march, young people wearing traditional Romanian dress carried icons, including the icon of the Romanian Patriarchate’s 2026 Solemn Year, dedicated to the pastoral care of the Christian family.
The march concluded at the Buiucani District Administration, where Fr Constantin Sturzu, Diocesan Adviser to the Archdiocese of Iași, delivered a lecture entitled The Family: Between God’s Blessing and the Challenges of Contemporary Society.
Spiritual lecture
Interest in the lecture far exceeded the venue’s capacity of approximately 500 seats. Many faithful followed the presentation while standing, both inside the hall and in the building’s corridors.
Fr Constantin Sturzu spoke about the vocations of marriage and monasticism, self-sacrificial love and spiritual maturity through overcoming selfishness and caring for one’s loved ones.
He also addressed the challenges of contemporary society, the education of children and young people, and the relationship between the family and the parish community.
Participants’ questions extended the gathering into a dialogue about families’ concerns and needs.
Gratitude to organisers and partners
At the conclusion of the event, Metropolitan Antonie thanked everyone who had contributed to its organisation and success.
His Eminence expressed gratitude to diocesan advisers and deans, the priests and parish communities who had responded to the invitation, and Fr. Constantin Sturzu for his presence and spiritually enriching address.
Thanks were also extended to the team of the Diaconia Social Mission and volunteers from ASCOR Chișinău, the League of Bessarabian Pupils and the League of Bessarabian Students for their logistical assistance and involvement.
The organisers also expressed special appreciation to the Buiucani District Administration for hosting the conference, the General Police Inspectorate and the General Inspectorate of Carabinieri for maintaining order and ensuring participants’ safety, and sponsors Maspex Moldova and PrintCaro Printing House.
The organisers also thanked the institutions and media partners who supported the event.
Supporting families in parish communities
“The Family March made visible a community in which the hierarch, clergy and faithful together assume responsibility for the care of families,” representatives of the Metropolis of Bessarabia said.
“This public presence reflects the work that the Metropolis of Bessarabia carries out every day in its parishes through the education of young people, charitable ministry and support for those whose joys and trials call for closeness and assistance.”
“The large turnout from parish communities highlighted the role of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in society and its ability to bring people together around faith, solidarity and Romanian spiritual heritage,” the representatives added.
