Metropolis of Bessarabia marks 34 years since restoration after Soviet rule

Monday marked 34 years since the Diocesan Assembly in Chișinău decided, on 14 September 1992, to reactivate the Metropolis of Bessarabia.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church noted the decision on 19 December 1992 through a Patriarchal and Synodal Act, recognising it as an autonomous metropolis following the unrevised calendar, an integral part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, with its see in Chișinău.

How the Metropolis of Bessarabia was reactivated The Republic of Moldova had declared its independence in 1991, but Soviet-era attitudes remained deeply rooted in society east of the Prut River. As a result, the path towards recognition of the re-established metropolis by the Moldovan authorities was protracted and marked by obstacles and delays.

Alongside Bessarabian MP Vlad Cubreacov, Anatol Telembici, now Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia, also took part in the legal campaign to have the re-established metropolis recognised, serving as its representative.

The case eventually reached the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. In its 13 December 2001 decision, the European Court ruled in favour of the Metropolis of Bessarabia and required the…