The head of the Bessarabian Metropolis has secured British support to "protect the rights of believers" in Moldova

On November 5, 2026, a meeting took place in Chisinau between Metropolitan Antonie, head of the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Patriarchate, and Fern Horin, the British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova. The parties discussed issues of religious freedom, the safety of church communities, and the Metropolis’s humanitarian activities, according to the Orthodoxia News Agency.

During the talks, Metropolitan Antony “expressed concern about the situation regarding respect for the rights of believers and the protection of church communities.” Particular attention was paid to “incidents” in the villages of Dereneu and Grinauci (in these settlements, representatives of the Bessarabian Metropolis were unable to forcibly seize churches belonging to the Orthodox Church of Moldova, —Ed.), which, according to the hierarch of the Romanian Patriarchate, “illustrate the problems arising from interchurch tensions and the lack of adequate protection from state authorities.” The metropolitan emphasized the need for impartial intervention by the authorities to prevent violence and ensure freedom of religion for all citizens, regardless of their canonical jurisdiction.

An important part of the discussion centered on legal and property disputes that have been ongoing since 2010, which “hinder the normal functioning of parishes wishing to join the Bessarabian Metropolis.” Metropolitan Anthony called for the creation of legal mechanisms guaranteeing the equality of religious organizations before the law.

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