The head of the Bessarabian Metropolis has appealed to the United States for support in defending the organization's interests in Moldova

Metropolitan Anthony of Bessarabia held a meeting with John O’Brien, a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, during which he called for diplomatic support to protect the rights of believers and ensure religious freedom in the Republic of Moldova. Key topics of discussion included instances of discrimination, violence against the clergy, and the protracted process of returning church property confiscated during the Soviet era.

During the discussion, Metropolitan Anthony expressed concern over the resumption of a “hostile campaign” by a number of representatives of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. According to the hierarch, “the dissemination of propaganda materials and acts of aggression hinder the peaceful coexistence of church structures.” Particular attention was paid to incidents in the towns of Grinauci and Dereni, where, according to the head of the Bessarabian Metropolis, clergy and parishioners “were subjected to humiliation, and access to churches was restricted with the connivance of local authorities.”

An important part of the dialogue was the issue of restoring “historical justice.” The Metropolitan emphasized that Moldovan government agencies have still not fulfilled their obligations to return property, including the promise to transfer buildings as compensation for damage inflicted during the Soviet era. The hierarch called on the U.S. Embassy to help ensure transparent and impartial rules governing the use of religious buildings designated as historical monuments, in order to prevent the heritage from being used as a tool to exert pressure on religious communities.

For his part, U.S. Embassy representative John O’Brien confirmed the U.S. side’s readiness to continue the dialogue on issues of human rights and the protection of religious freedom. Metropolitan Anthony thanked the American diplomats for their attention to the issue and emphasized the need for the authorities to actively participate in investigating cases of violence and discrimination, as well as to adopt legislative measures to protect the rights of all religious communities in the country.

As a reminder, earlier, Archbishop Markell of Bălți and Fălești, a hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, appealed to the people of Moldova to remain vigilant regarding the activities of an organization known as the “Bessarabian Metropolis.” The bishop called this organization “schismatic” and expressed his categorical opposition to its attempts to seize church property within the country, particularly in the city of Bălți.