Hierarchs of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met in a working session on Thursday at the Metropolitan Residence in Chisinau, where they approved the text of the Akathist to St Blandina of Iași and set the date and location for the local proclamation of her canonisation: 23 May 2026 in Chisinau.
The meeting was chaired by His Eminence Petru, Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories, in the presence of Bishop Antonie of Bălți, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, and Assistant Bishop Nectarie of Bogdania of the Archdiocese of Chisinau.
Strengthening the Role of Deaneries
The agenda also included topics related to intensifying pastoral activity and strengthening both the mission of the Romanian Orthodox Church in society and the cohesion of parish communities.
Decisions were adopted regarding the status of several parishes, monasteries and deaneries, and updates to internal regulations and legal statutes were approved to improve administrative and pastoral efficiency.
The measures aim to strengthen the role of deaneries as local centres for coordinating and energising ecclesiastical life, enabling them to support parish communities more actively and to promote missionary, educational and cultural initiatives.
Social Solidarity and Community Support
Igor Belei, social adviser to the Archdiocese of Chisinau and executive director of the Diaconia Social Mission, presented the activity report of the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s charitable organisation.
Through the projects of the Diaconia Social Mission, the Metropolis continues to offer practical support to vulnerable people, families in difficulty, children and the elderly, actively contributing to social solidarity in communities across the Republic of Moldova.
The hierarchs also analysed the current challenges faced by parish communities and established a series of measures and action plans to ensure the proper organisation of church life, protect the clergy, and support the faithful in their spiritual and community activities.
Institutional Cooperation
The meeting also highlighted the cooperation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia with state institutions, non-governmental organisations, European institutions and partners in Romania in fields such as education, culture, social assistance, academic research and heritage preservation.
The hierarchs also underlined the essential support provided by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Government of Romania, which contributes to the development of church infrastructure, the restoration of historic monuments, the support of social projects and the strengthening of pastoral and missionary activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Bessarabia.
Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia
