On Monday evening, the General Assembly of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Filantropia Federation gathered in Chișinău and was marked by a Te Deum service at the chapel of the Eparchial Center. Key attendees included Father Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Advisor and President of the Filantropia Federation; clergy from the Metropolis of Bessarabia; social advisors from various dioceses of the Romanian Patriarchate; and Igor Belei, Executive Director of Diaconia, the Bessarabian Metropolis’s social mission organization.
Father Ciprian Ioniță conveyed gratitude to His Eminence Petru, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, saying, “I would like you to pass on our heartfelt thanks to Metropolitan Petru for blessing our gathering here in Chișinău for the Federation’s assembly and the social advisors’ meeting.”
He also highlighted the federation’s growth, noting, “Today, the Filantropia Federation has 27 members. We serve as the Church’s outstretched arm, its social support. Just as Diaconia is the social branch of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, the Federation serves as the Romanian Orthodox Church’s social arm.”
Recognition for the Host Organization
Father Ioniță also expressed gratitude to Diaconia, a member organization of the Filantropia Federation, and presented Igor Belei with the Honorary Diploma of the 2024 Solemn Year, awarded by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
“This year has been dedicated to pastoral care and support for the sick in the Romanian Patriarchate, and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel extended his appreciation for all that Diaconia does for the Church here in the Metropolis of Bessarabia,” said Father Ioniță.
“Mr Belei receives this honour on behalf of everyone, particularly as he has already been awarded the Patriarchal Cross for the laity by His Beatitude.”
Igor Belei responded, “It has long been a personal wish of mine for us all to return to Chișinău despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the conflict. For the first time, all Romanian diocesan representatives are here together. Hosting this gathering in Bessarabia and within the Romanian Orthodox Church is a great honour, especially around such an important social issue.”
Tackling Domestic Violence: A Key Issue
On Tuesday, the Federation’s second day of meetings focused on a conference addressing domestic violence prevention and intervention. Titled “Family under the Protection of Faith: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Family Violence,” the conference opened with remarks from His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, Father Ciprian Ioniță, and Neli Lelenco of Moldova’s National Agency for the Prevention of Violence against Women and Family Violence.
The event drew over 90 participants, including clergy, women’s rights experts, child protection advocates, and philanthropic organizations from both Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Panel discussions and workshops covered topics such as “Gender Roles in Orthodox Tradition and Their Impact on Family Life,” “Spiritual Counseling as a Means of Preventing Domestic Violence,” and “The Role of Priests’ Wives in Community Support.”
Diaconia representatives noted on Facebook, “This event marks a significant step forward in promoting safe, harmonious communities through close collaboration between faith-based organizations and civil society.”
The conference was part of the “Love for Neighbor: Empowering Religious Communities to Prevent Family Violence in Rural Areas” initiative, implemented by Diaconia under the regional “EU4GenderEquality: United Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence” program. This initiative, funded by the European Union and managed by UN Women and UNFPA in Moldova, is now in its second phase.
Visiting Diaconia’s Social Services
On Wednesday, the Federation’s final day of meetings was devoted to tours of Diaconia’s social services within the Metropolis of Bessarabia, including the St. Anne Multifunctional Center, the Maternal Center, and the Social Apartment program. The Romanian Patriarchate’s social advisors also held a concluding session.
About the Filantropia Federation
The Filantropia Federation brings together philanthropic organizations from dioceses within Romania and the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Its member organizations expand to include those from the diaspora, such as the San Lorenzo dei Romeni Association of the Italian Diocese.
Photo: Facebook / Diaconia Social Mission
