Metropolis of Bessarabia

Bessarabia Metropolitan urges to emulate myrrhbearers’ courage and confess spiritual and national identity

“We are responsible for standing upright and confessing the true faith, the true Orthodox values, defending our Romanian spiritual identity, and resembling the myrrh-bearing women,” His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia wrote in his pastoral letter for Holy Pascha 2024. “Full of courage, faith, zeal, and love, let us preach peace and forgiveness and share…

May 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan’s message on Day of Remembrance of victims of 1946-1947 famine: Never forget their suffering

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru issued a message honouring the victims of the organised famine that ravaged Bessarabia from 1946 to 1947. “We bow our heads and knees to the memory of the reposed and promise never to forget their suffering and the lesson they left us,” the Metropolitan of Bessarabia said. This commemoration takes place…

Apr 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Moldova holds national census: Bessarabia Metropolitan urges residents to declare their Romanian identity

In a message published on the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s official website, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru urged the faithful in the Republic of Moldova to participate in the Population and Housing Census and identify as Romanian by nationality and mother tongue. Metropolitan Petru noted that this year’s Census on Population and Housing is “a good opportunity…

Apr 18, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Synod explores ways to strengthen relations with local communities

Last week, during an extraordinary session, the Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia addressed various pastoral, missionary, social, and administrative challenges that the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Moldova faces. His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Bishop Antonie of Bălți, and Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia deliberated on matters pertaining to the effectiveness…

Mar 13, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church Holy Synod meets for first time this year: main decisions

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met for a working session at Patriarch Teoctist Aula of the Patriarchal Palace on Thursday, February 29, 2024. The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod resolved the following: To declare 2025 as a Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate…

Mar 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

In 2023, Food Bank Moldova recovered food for 250,000 meals offered to the needy

In 2023, Bank of Food Moldova recovered more than 124,480 kg of foods. According to the standards of the European Food Banks Federation – FEBA, they represented 248,960 hot meals, which were distributed by 51 social services throughout the Republic of Moldova. The number of beneficiaries assisted by these centres was approximately 5,000 socially vulnerable…

Jan 11, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Bessarabia Metropolitan’s Christmas message: Priests contributed to the consolidation of communities

A few days before the old calendar Christmas celebration, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru sent a pastoral letter expressing his appreciation for the efforts of parish priests within the Metropolis of Bessarabia. “Another essential aspect of this year is the commendable efforts of the parish priests, who sacrificed themselves in every parish to serve the faithful,”…

Jan 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Synod held in Chisinau: Bessarabia Metropolis announces large-scale projects

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…

Nov 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

European Parliament recognises the Orthodox Metropolis of Bessarabia as a victim of Soviet oppression

A resolution proposed by mostly Polish MEPs and voted last week in the European Parliament recognises the Metropolis of Bessarabia as a victim of Soviet oppression. The European Parliament “notes that the Orthodox Metropolis of Bessarabia, which was vindictively abolished by the Soviet authorities, was officially recognised in 2002 following a decision of the European…

Oct 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru prays for peace at tomb of Bassarabia’s first metropolitan

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia went to Cernica Monastery’s cemetery last Friday to pray and recollect at the tomb of one of his predecessors, Metropolitan Gurie Grosu, the first Metropolitan of Bessarabia after 100 years of Russian occupation. Metropolitan Petru officiated a memorial service for the rest of the soul of Metropolitan Gurie of…

Oct 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Princess Sophie of Romania meets with Bessarabia Metropolitan Petru

HRH Princess Sophie of Romania met with His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia at the diocesan centre in Chisinau on Monday. Her Royal Highness was accompanied by Romania’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Cristian-Leon Ţurcanu. Diocesan adviser Archdeacon Mihail Sturza briefed the Princess on the Metropolis’s most significant projects and prospects as part of…

Sep 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu