The Orthodox Church of Moldova fears a break in relations between the ROC and the Romanian Orthodox Church due to the activities of the Bessarabian Metropolia

The hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti, expressed concern about a possible break in relations between the Moscow and Romanian Patriarchates due to the non-canonical activities of the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Moldova. The bishop noted that the prerequisites for such a development are in place, since some bishops of the Romanian Church openly accept those clerics of the OCM who are under canonical restrictions. He said this in an interview with Raskolam.net.

“It is with great regret that we must state that the prerequisites for this, in my opinion, catastrophe exist. I really hope that common sense will prevail in the end. God forbid that liturgical communion between the largest Orthodox Churches should break down. There is no doubt that this split is based on the base passions of sinful man: pride, desire for profit, humanity’s pleasing the powers that be, and the substitution of Christian love for the Motherland for one’s narrow national passions. This is how this split within the Orthodox Church of Moldova is understood,” — Archbishop Markell noted.

The hierarch added that the representatives of the Romanian Patriarchate literally condone what is happening, persuading the clergy of the Orthodox Church of Moldova to violate the canonical order and to fall into schism.

“It is surprising and legitimately indignant that some diocesan bishops of the Romanian Orthodox Church allow them to serve. Moreover, the public statements of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania that he does not recognize and invalidates the decisions of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova regarding clerics who have transferred to the Bessarabian Metropolis, even if they are defrocked, defy rational explanation. undefinedschism in Moldova, which is a grave sin on their consciences,” — he added.

As we reported earlier, in the last days of May 2025, the “chaplains” of the Chernivtsi Diocese of the OCU visited the Ukrainian vicariate as part of the Romanian Orthodox Church. It is reported that this visit took place at the initiative of the Romanian Patriarchate “in order to deepen relations” between the OCU and the Romanian Orthodox Church.