Archbishop Markell opposed the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Moldova

Archbishop of Balti and Falesti Markell expressed categorical disagreement with the idea of granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Moldova, stating that the structure is objectively unprepared for full independence. According to the hierarch, such initiatives may lead to the loss of church identity and increase political instability in the country.

According to the information resource «Orthodox Moldova and the World», the archbishop compared the desire for a hasty autocephaly to the situation of an immature child who risks being under the influence of others. Vladyka Markell emphasized that independence in the current conditions would make the Church vulnerable to external forces that seek to integrate Moldova into other states. He expressed serious suspicions that the proposals for secession are «a political order of the ruling regime» aimed at breaking spiritual ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.

In his address, the archbishop paid special attention to the social and canonical consequences of a possible schism. He noted that the rejection of unity with the Russian Orthodox Church would be the trigger of many problems, including «the final loss of ties with Transnistria and Gagauzia,» as well as the risk of civil disobedience in the regions. The hierarch recalled that a decision on the future of the Church cannot be made without taking into account the opinion of the entire clergy and ordinary parishioners, stressing that many clergymen did not authorize activists to speak on their behalf.

In conclusion, Vladyka Markell urged to remain faithful to the canonical path that the Church has followed for more than 200 years. He emphasized that the current autonomous status of the Orthodox Church of Moldova allows it to be independent in all matters except liturgical, while ensuring its legitimate status in the Orthodox world. In the archbishop’s opinion, the preservation of the church unity is the key to the preservation of the Moldovan statehood.

Earlier, the leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon sharply criticized the policy of President Maia Sandu, calling the pressure on the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) and the seizure of churches part of the strategy to eliminate the statehood of the country. According to the politician, such actions undermine the foundations of Moldovan society and its historical continuity.