← News feed Romanian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Antonie calls for recovery of Basarabia’s heritage on Chișinău’s 590th anniversary

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia issued a message on the 590th anniversary of Chișinău’s first documented mention. His Eminence called for the recovery of the historic heritage of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, saying: “We have a duty to restore this legacy to the public consciousness.”

The Metropolitan recalled that the earliest known document mentioning the name Chișinău dates from 17 July 1436 and was issued by the rulers of Moldavia.

“Chișinău entered history around its churches, schools, printing presses and cultural institutions. Here, generations of clergy, teachers, physicians, jurists, statesmen and scholars were formed—people who understood that a community endures through faith, education and respect for its own identity,” Metropolitan Antonie said.

“In this historical development, the Metropolis of Bessarabia occupied a decisive place. For generations, it was one of the great institutions of the Romanian lands between the Prut and the Dniester, supporting Romanian education, culture, the press, philanthropy and the formation of the intellectual elite.”

“Around it there emerged a strong historical consciousness, founded upon the Orthodox faith, the Romanian…

Source: Basilica News Agency (English) · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (2) 🌐 Show original

Светлана КиселёваIt is interesting that the first record about Chisinau is from July 17, 1436 from the Moldavian rulers. But about how exactly the Metropolis of Bessarabia helped create schools and printing houses between the Prut and the Dniester, I would like to read in more detail - are there any specific examples from those times?

Николай СоловьёвSvetlana, thank you for reminding us of the exact date - July 17, 1436, it all really began with a charter from the Moldavian rulers. I can tell you about the schools and printing houses of the Metropolis of Bessarabia: in the 19th century, the Chisinau Theological Seminary was opened there, where future teachers and priests studied, and the printing house at the bishop’s house printed textbooks in Romanian. If you want, I can look for the titles of specific books or the names of graduates who later worked in those parts. Do you have a favorite period in this story?