Metropolitan See of Bessarabia reaffirms support for Moldova's European path; Metropolitan Petru meets European Commissioner for Enlargement

The Metropolitan See of Bessarabia, an integral part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, responsibly and openly supports the benefits that accession to the European Union can bring to Moldova – from safety and stability to social and cultural protection, as well as supporting initiatives that increase the Church's visibility and trust in the public space. The message was conveyed by Most Right Reverend Petru, Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, and Exarch of the Lands, at a meeting with Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, on a visit Chisinau.

“The Metropolitan See of Bessarabia, through the voice of the metropolitan synod and through the ministry of its clergy, has consistently proved that it supports the wish of believers to anchor Moldova in European values, reaffirming that the European path is also a path of memory, freedom and dignity,” a statement by the Metropolitan See of Bessarabia reads.

Father Petru emphasized that the Metropolitan See of Bessarabia has always been faithful to the aspirations of the Bessarabian people, recalling including the fight in the 1990s at the European Court of Human Rights for the recognition and assertion of its rights.

During the discussion, the sides addressed the challenges and opportunities of the European integration process, with a focus on the role of religious denominations in protecting freedom of faith, financing projects to conserve and promote cultural and religious heritage and strengthening an active role of the Church in society.

After the meeting, European Commissioner visited the Chapel of Saint John the Theologian, where Metropolitan Petru presented the history of the place and the main projects of the Metropolitan See. The official agenda continued at the Ministry of Culture, where a round table was held with representatives of more religious denominations.

The participants highlighted the need of keeping the liturgical space away from political propaganda, emphasizing the incompatibility of electoral messages with the preaching of the Gospel. At the same time, attention was drawn to the risk of relativizing the atheist communist past, a period marked by religious persecutions and trials of the spiritual identity of the people.