In Moldova, they declared a threat to the Orthodox Church: Archbishop Markel held a prayer service for unity

On March 15, Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti held a prayer service for church unity and the protection of churches at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Balti, pointing to the risk of state intervention and the possible seizure of more than 800 churches into state ownership, while the Ministry of Culture, according to the same reports, does not have the resources to preserve them. This is reported by «Sare și Lumină || Ortodoxia în Moldova».

According to the publication, Archbishop Markel led a service of prayer for the unity of the Church and for the «protection of the churches from encroachment,» calling on clergy and laity to consolidate and pray together.

«A real threat is looming over our Orthodox Church in Moldova. The state authorities have taken the first steps to take away churches from the Orthodox communities of the Canonical Church, » the bishop said, calling the faithful to unity and common prayer, the source reported.

According to the publication, the Moldovan authorities have expressed their intention to return over 800 churches to state ownership under the pretext of their protection and restoration. At the same time, as noted in the same material, the Ministry of Culture stated that it lacks the necessary resources for the conservation of architectural monuments.

According to the source, the Archbishop’s call for prayer and unity in the face of these threats is addressed to all clergy and Orthodox believers in Moldova, against the background of discussions on the status of church objects and the prospects for their restoration and protection.

Recall, earlier we reported that the rector of the church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Dereneu (Moldova), the priest of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Alexandru Popa, barricaded himself inside the church with his family. This desperate move was a response to attempts by the authorities to take away the church and transfer it to the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church of the Romanian Orthodox Church.