The Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met on Wednesday for a working session at the Metropolitan Residence in Chisinau. The hierarchs also met with Romania’s Secretary of State for Religious Affairs and a delegation from the Basilica Media Centre.
His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, the Bishop of Balti, and the Bishop of Southern Bessarabia assessed the activities for 2023 and deliberated on the budgets for the following year during the synodal meeting.
The proposal of designating 2025 as the “Centenary Year of the Metropolis of Bessarabia and the Romanian Patriarchate” was concurrently accepted.
Extensive discussions took place on regulating the canonical status of the parishes in the Balti diocese. According to the press release issued following the meeting, the analyses also included the accession of parishes from the Russian structure to the Metropolis of Bessarabia.
In addition, the situation in Ukraine and the measures taken to register the Romanian Orthodox Church as an official religious organisation were discussed.
Large-scale projects
Bishop Veniamin delivered a noteworthy report at the synodal meeting detailing the endeavours of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia, which encompassed thirty sites for the construction or restoration of religious buildings.
The activity plan for the construction of the diocesan cathedral in Bălţi, as well as other significant pastoral, cultural, and missionary endeavours, was elaborated by Bishop Antonie de Bălţi.
During the subsequent segment of the assembly, Archdeacon Maxim Sturza, metropolitan adviser for Relations with State Institutions, provided an overview of the noteworthy undertakings of the Chisinau Archdiocese that are slated for completion or implementation in the coming year:
- Construction of a metropolitan cathedral in the centre of Chisinau;
- Construction of a social centre in Chisinau for older people or those with disadvantaged backgrounds;
- The launch of television and radio stations of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in collaboration with the Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate;
- Allocation of the financial resources necessary to complete the construction and embellishment works of the “Saints Peter and Paul” Cathedral in Buiucani, which will be under the direct management of the Metropolis of Bessarabia.
The Secretary of State for Religious Affairs of the Government of Romania, Ciprian Vasile Olinici, joined the discussions on the processes and developments within the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Moldova.
In a joint meeting with Trinitas TV and Radio Trinitas representatives, numerous media, pastoral, missionary, and educational topics were discussed to conclude the meeting.
Bishop Veniamin concluded the event by presenting all representatives with anniversary distinctions from the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia.
Photography courtesy of the Metropolis of Bessarabia
