Statement of the Synod of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan regarding the obstruction by Moldovan authorities of the bringing of the Holy Fire into the country

On the evening of April 17, an event occurred that shocked the Orthodox world — including the many faithful in Kazakhstan — by its blatant cynicism. The authorities of the Republic of Moldova prevented the official representative of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Archbishop Marchel of Bălți and Fălești, from flying to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire.

Vladimir Legoida, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, rightly and unequivocally described this political action as “a deliberate mockery of the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the religious community of the majority of Moldovans.” As an experienced Church and public figure, Mr. Legoida noted that the goal of this egregious decision by the Moldovan authorities was to deprive the people of the opportunity to come into contact with the sacred flame brought from the ancient city of Jerusalem on Holy Saturday.

It is noteworthy that, on the eve of this event, the Moldovan authorities granted permission to representatives of the “Metropolis of Bessarabia,” which is under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Patriarchate, to bring the Holy Fire to Chișinău.

In evaluating what has taken place, it must be acknowledged — with sorrow and pain — that the rights of the faithful of the canonical Orthodox Church of Moldova, which unites 70% of the population of Moldova and Transnistria, are being infringed upon. All of this bears a troubling resemblance to the deceptive administrative persecutions of Orthodoxy carried out by militant atheists in the mid-20th century.

The episcopate, clergy, monastics, and laypeople of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan express their full support for His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova, the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Orthodox Church of Moldova amid the growing pressures directed against them.

We call upon the international community to condemn this act of deliberate mockery of the conscience of Orthodox Christians and the unlawful interference of secular authorities in the life of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.