Metropolis of Bessarabia

Bessarabian bishops plan Centennial celebrations, canonizations, and theological education expansion

The four hierarchs of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met on Monday in Chișinău for a working session under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Petru. The decisions made concern the celebration of the Centennial of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, theological education in the Republic of Moldova, canonizations, and ecclesiastical distinctions. The Synod decided to organize…

Jun 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Theology students from Chișinău visit Romanian Patriarchate, urged to be “creators of unity”

A group of master’s students enrolled at the Chișinău extension of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest visited the Patriarchal Palace on Wednesday. The students were welcomed by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia, who encouraged the young people from Bessarabia to become creators of unity. “I urge you, therefore, to preserve and cultivate…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel congratulates Bishop Veniamin on his 50th birthday, calls him “a hierarch of accomplished deeds”

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania congratulated Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia on June 11, the occasion of his 50th birthday. In his letter, the Romanian Patriarch praised Bishop Veniamin’s dedication and accomplishments, calling him “a hierarch of accomplished deeds, a model for priests, and a support for the faithful in times of confusion.” The…

Jun 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Moldovan Parliament Speaker meets Metropolitan Petru to discuss religious heritage restoration and church-state cooperation

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met on Monday with Igor Grosu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, at the Metropolitan Residence in Chișinău. Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Father Gabriel-Andrei Gherasă, Administrative Vicar of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, and Archdeacon Iurie Saganovschi, Secretary of…

May 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolis to mark Centennial with prayer and national thanksgiving in Chișinău

The Metropolis of Bessarabia will celebrate its centennial on Thursday with a special prayer service at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Chișinău. The Divine Liturgy will be presided over by Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, with concelebrants including Bishop Antonie of Bălți, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, and Assistant Bishop Nectarie…

May 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

President Maia Sandu meets Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, highlights Church’s role in promoting peace and social support

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met with President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Chișinău. President Sandu emphasised the essential role played by the Romanian Orthodox Church, through the Metropolis of Bessarabia, in the lives of local communities, not only as a guardian of Christian values…

Apr 21, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Orthodox bishops join charity campaign to support Easter meals for needy families

Hierarchs from the Metropolis of Bessarabia were seen on Saturday shopping in various commercial centers—not for themselves, but for the Easter meals of families in need. After expressing support last week for the national campaign “The Table of Joy” (Masa Bucuriei), the bishops are now directly involved in the initiative organized by the Diaconia Social…

Apr 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru celebrates Annunciation in Chișinău, ordains priest for Ungheni parish

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation on Monday—according to the unrevised Julian calendar—at the Church of “Saint John Jacob” in Chișinău’s Ciocana district. Fr. Anatolie Goncear, parish priest of the “Three Holy Hierarchs” Church in Chișinău, delivered the sermon during the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the importance of a humble…

Apr 10, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru celebrates 56 years of monastic life during parish anniversary in Ungheni

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday in Ungheni, marking the 56th anniversary of his monastic life, alongside two milestone celebrations of the local parish dedicated to Saint Joseph the Merciful, Metropolitan of Moldavia. On this occasion, Fr. Gabriel-Andrei Gherasă, dean of the Ungheni parish, celebrated seven years of priestly ministry and…

Apr 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru: Bessarabia’s 1918 Union was a providential act, not a closed chapter

On Thursday, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia delivered a message marking the 107th anniversary of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania, emphasizing God’s work in the history of Romanians beyond the Prut River and the courage of their forebears. “Union, beloved brothers and sisters, is not a closed chapter, but a sacred work that must be…

Mar 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolis of Bessarabia supports ban on plastic funeral wreaths in environmental talks

Representatives of the Metropolis of Bessarabia took part in consultations with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova regarding the reduction of plastic funeral wreaths, which are highly polluting. The meeting took place on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters and was attended by Fr. Maxim Melinti, Cultural Advisor to the Archdiocese of Chișinău,…

Mar 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu