Patriarch Daniel, congratulatory message two decades after the legal recognition of the Diocese of South Bessarabiatranslated

On Thursday, His Beatitude Father Patriarch Daniel sent a congratulatory message to the Diocese of South Bessarabia on the occasion of the two-decade anniversary of legal recognition.

"At this anniversary moment, we express our appreciation to His Holiness Father Veniamin, Bishop of Southern Bessarabia, for his episcopal service and efforts made to strengthen church life. We also congratulate the priests, deacons, monks, founders, benefactors and all the faithful who, through prayer, sacrifice and dedication, support the work of the Church in the Romanian Orthodox communities from the south of Bessarabia", the message of the Patriarch of Romania states.

His Beatitude evoked the memory of the forefathers of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia, who contributed to the organization of church life and the defense of Orthodox and Romanian values.

"We evoke, in particular, the memory of the hierarchs, priests and monks who worked over the centuries in southern Bessarabia both at the White Citadel mentioned in the 14th century, but especially at the Bishopric of the White Citadel-Ismail, established on March 8, 1923, whose pastoral legacy is continued today by the Bishopric of Southern Bessarabia....