Another OCM parish in Moldova transferred to the Metropolitanate of Bessarabia

On July 21, 2024, the parish of the Orthodox Church of Moldova in honor of St. Alexander Svirsky in Cricovo transferred to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia of the Romanian Patriarchate. The abbot of the church supported the decision of the community, noting that people had long asked him for such a step. The Seven Days Panorama website reported.

“Our joining the Romanian patriarchate is not a personal whim, has no political, economic or social motives. This decision was made at the request of the Christians and parishioners of Cricova, who wished to return to their cultural, spiritual and historical roots. It is an act of gratitude to our ancestors and Holy Fathers. We will follow the same calendar, celebrate the same feasts and saints. We profess the same faith and creed without change. We celebrate the same Divine Liturgy, receive communion with the same Body and Blood of Christ, and administer the same Sacraments: baptism, marriage, prayer services, burial, burial, consecration of houses, etc. We will continue to preach, teach and support the vulnerable in society: orphans, prisoners, the elderly, the lonely and people with special needs, providing them with material, social and spiritual assistance. We pray for the peace and well-being of our Church, our faithful and our country. Fraternity life is most beautiful, dignified and spiritual. Thank you for your support, trust and good will. Let’s be faithful to our ancestors, our faith and culture”, — wrote the rector of the parish, priest Andrei Perchik in social networks.

In turn, the Chisinau Metropolitan Church of the Orthodox Church of Moldova reacted to such actions of the priest by banning him from the ministry. The OCM believes that the priest has gone on a vow offense and deviated into schism.

“After the illegal and non-canonical withdrawal from the Chisinau diocese of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, given the disobedience to the hierarchical-highest ecclesiastical authorities, as well as for violating the oath given at ordination, the parish priest of the Church of St. Alexander of Svirsk in the town of Cricova, since July 22, is deprived of the opportunity to perform divine services,” — reads the official statement published on the website of the Moldovan Metropolitan Church.

Earlier, the hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Archbishop of Balti and Falesti Markell (Mihescu), said that the government of the country is using various mechanisms to combat the OCM. The archbishop considers the final goal of such actions on the part of the Moldovan authorities to be the transfer of the entire structure of the PCM to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia of the Romanian Patriarchate.