Metropolis of Bessarabia

Southern Bessarabia bishop prayerfully marks 103rd anniversary of Cetatea Albă–Ismail diocese

His Grace Bishop Veniamin officiated a Te Deum service on Tuesday at the diocesan cathedral in Cahul to mark the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Cetatea Albă–Ismail, whose canonical successor today is the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia. The hierarch recalled the historical context of the diocese’s establishment, noting that the Great…

Mar 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru says Great Lent re-places our being within the horizon of eternity

The season of Great Lent, which begins on Monday in the Orthodox Church, is a “time of inner examination, of clarifying the mind and of re-placing our being within the horizon of eternity,” Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories said in a pastoral message. “Beyond the outward exercise of bodily abstinence, we…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox and Catholic groups launch child protection and domestic violence prevention project in Bessarabia

The Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia has partnered with Catholic Relief Services to prevent the separation of children from their families and to combat domestic violence under a nine-month project titled “Community and Communion.” Child protection and prevention of domestic violence Implemented in the Republic of Moldova between January and September 2026,…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Bălți prays for hierarchs who shepherded Bessarabia at Bucharest cemetery

Bishop Antonie of Bălți prayed on Thursday for the hierarchs who once shepherded Bessarabia and who are buried at the cemetery of Cernica Monastery, near Bucharest. Bishop Antonie lit a vigil lamp at the graves of Metropolitan Gurie Grosu of Bessarabia (1928–1936), Metropolitan Tit Simedrea of Bukovina—who served in Bălți between 1935 and 1940—and Bishop…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Basarabia Metropolitan Petru chairs Chișinău Archdiocese assembly, presents 2025 activity report

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia chaired on Monday the Diocesan Assembly, the deliberative body of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, during which the report on the archdiocese’s activities for the past year was presented. The meeting was preceded by prayer, with a Te Deum service celebrated in the chapel of Saint John the Theologian of…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia Diocese reports baptism growth and stronger youth engagement in 2025

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia recorded visible pastoral growth throughout 2025, alongside greater involvement of young people in diocesan life. Figures in the diocese’s annual activity report point to an encouraging development: 889 baptisms, 350 weddings and 870 funerals were recorded, with the number of those entering the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism exceeding…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan marks Romanian Principalities Union Day, hopes “brothers will live together again”

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia expressed hope that “brothers will live together again” in a message issued on the occasion of the Day of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. According to Metropolitan Petru, the day represents “a work of divine Providence through which history was set on the natural path of unity”. “24…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian MP meets Bessarabia Metropolitan, pledges support

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, on Wednesday, received an official visit at his residence in Chişinău from a delegation from Bucharest led by Adrian Felician Cozma, Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies in Romania’s Parliament. The official was accompanied by Lavinia Felicia Năstase and Claudiu-Ion Chelcea, First Secretary at the Romanian Embassy in the…

Jan 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia’s Metropolitan Petru says Baptism is the seal of the Holy Spirit at Theophany service in Chisinau

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated on Monday the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Waters at the Metropolitan Chapel of St John the Theologian in Chisinau, as believers in the Republic of Moldova mostly follow the unrevised Julian calendar. The service was held together with an assembly of clergy from the diocesan centre, on…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru meets Romanian-Moldovan parliamentary delegation in Chișinău

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met on Friday in Chișinău with a joint parliamentary delegation from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The delegation from Bucharest included Laurențiu Plăeșu, Vice-President of the Romanian Senate, who led the group of lawmakers from the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, while representatives of the authorities in…

Jan 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Veniamin warns of demographic crisis, urges support for Christian family in Republic of Moldova

Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia drew attention during his homily last Sunday to the challenges posed by the demographic crisis, highlighting the essential role of the Christian family in the birth, upbringing and education of children. His Grace emphasised the need to encourage women and mothers in order to strengthen the family and promote childbirth,…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu