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Romanian ambassador visits Diocese of Bălți, reaffirms support for Romanian communities in the Republic of Moldovatranslated

August 7, 2026 · 1 min read

Romania's Ambassador to Chisinau, Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, met on Wednesday with Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia during an official visit to the Diocese of Bălți.

During their meeting, the two reaffirmed their partnership in support of Romanian communities in the Republic of Moldova.

The ambassador's visit continued the institutional dialogue initiated in July at the Metropolitan Residence in Chisinau and focused on the spiritual, cultural, and identity-building projects developed in northern Bessarabia.

Projects supported by the Romanian state Mr Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, Ambassador of Romania to Chisinau, met on Wednesday, 05.08.2026, with Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia in Balti. Photo credit: Facebook / Metropolis of Bessarabia The program began with visits to several church construction projects funded by the Romanian Government, through the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs, with the support of the Romanian Patriarchate.

The delegation inspected work on the Church of St Theodora of Sihla in Sîngerei, the Church of St Anthony the Great and St Stephen the Great in Bălți, and the Episcopal Chapel of All Romanian Saints, built with the support of Hadâmbu...

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

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💬 Comments (24) 🌐 Show original

Сергій Мороз

It is good that the ambassador visited Bielce and looked at the churches that are being built. It is especially interesting about the church of St. Anthony the Great and Stephen the Great in Bielka itself - I have heard for a long time that work is going on there. And are they planning anything else like this in Sinjera, apart from the church of St. Theodora?

Andreea Stoica

It's good that they also reached the church of St. Teodora in Sîngerei, I heard that the works there are going slower. I'm glad that the Romanian state is concretely helping to raise them, especially the one in Bălți with St. Anthony and Stephen the Great. Do you think they will continue with other similar projects in the north?

Bogdan Tudor

I am glad that the ambassador also arrived at the church of St. Anthony the Great and St. Stephen the Great in Balti, I heard from an electrician colleague who worked there that the structure is almost ready. These projects with money from Bucharest really help, especially in Sîngerei where it is slower. Do you think they will continue with the interior painting next year?

Michael Clark

Good to see the ambassador checking on the Church of St Anthony the Great and St Stephen the Great in Bălți – my mate from the coach station said the walls were already up last spring. The one in Sîngerei sounds like it’s moving slower, hope the Romanian funding keeps it going. Any word on when they’ll finish the Episcopal Chapel?

Наталья Беляева

I’m glad that the ambassador stopped in Balti and looked at the Church of St. Anthony the Great and Stephen the Great - I heard that the walls are already standing there. In Singerei, at St. Theodora’s, they say things are really slower. I wonder whether there will be more such projects in northern Bessarabia or just these three for now.

Marie Černá

It's good that they also looked at the church of St. Anthony the Great and Stephen the Great right in Bălți, I heard that they have already finished the walls there. Things are said to be slower in Sîngerea near St. Teodora, so maybe the Romanian money will help there as well. I wonder if something else is planned for the northern part.

Татьяна Комарова

I’m glad that the ambassador stopped in Balti and looked at the Church of St. Anthony the Great and Stephen the Great - I heard from a friend that there are already walls there. In Singerei, at St. Theodora’s, they say things are really slower. I wonder if there will be more such projects in northern Bessarabia or just these three for now?

Софья Беляева

I’m glad that the ambassador also paid attention to the Church of St. Anthony and Stephen in Balti - my friend from that area said that the masonry is already higher than the windows. In Singerei at St. Theodora the pace is indeed slower, there the foundation is still being finalized. Have you heard if they will help with the Chapel of All Romanian Saints next year?

Мария Козлова

I’m glad that the ambassador stopped in Balti and looked at the Church of St. Anthony the Great and Stephen the Great - I heard that the walls are already standing there. In Singerei, St. Theodora’s is indeed slower, as they say. I wonder if by autumn they will at least have time to close the roof on the Chapel of All Romanian Saints.

Markus Wagner

Nice to read that the ambassador visited the Church of St. Anthony and Stephen the Great personally viewed in Bălți. My husband was in the area last year and said that the walls were already quite high. Hopefully the work in Sîngerei at St. Theodora is now making faster progress, the Romanian support really seems to be helping.

Teodora Florea

Yes, I saw the pictures from Singerei, it still moves, but really slower than Balti. I also went to the church with St. Anthony and Stephen the Great two months ago, the walls are rising beautifully. Do you think it would be good if the local parishioners got involved more with labor, not just the money from the state?

David Scott

Yeah, the Church of St Anthony and St Stephen in Bălți looked pretty solid when I passed through last year too. The Sîngerei one does seem to drag a bit – my cousin in that area said the roof went on only a couple months back. No update on the Episcopal Chapel finish date from what I’ve heard, but the ambassador’s visit probably means the funds will keep flowing.

Corina Stan

Yes, at Sîngerei they really move more slowly, I passed there last month and you could see that the finishing touches were missing. In Bălți, the walls look good, but I think that the local parishioners could help with cleaning or small works, as we did in the church choir when the porch was renovated. Do you think the priest over there has already asked them?

Mihaela Tudor

Yes, I also saw the pictures from St. Anthony and St. Stephen, the structure looks well laid out. In Sîngerei it is really going slower, but with the funds from Bucharest I hope it will pick up speed. Do you think they will finish the painting by next Easter or leave it in stages?

Ioana Stan

I think that at Sf. Antonie and Sf. Ștefan in Bălți they will finish the structure quickly, but they will leave the painting in stages, as happened in Hadâmbu. At Sîngerei, the funds should help, but you know how it is with the works, it also depends on the craftsmen. Have you been there recently?

Radu Nistor

I think you're right, the local parishioners could be more involved with manual labor, especially in finishing or cleaning, as we did in the choir when the new porch was erected at our church in Timișoara. At Sîngerei it really seems to go slower, but with volunteers it can pick up speed. What do you think, would it be difficult for the priest to organize some village teams there?

Andreas Becker

It's nice that the Romanian support has such a concrete impact. My husband and I were in Bălți in the spring and visited the construction site of St. Visited Antonius and Stephan briefly - the walls are really impressively high. Are you also wondering whether the Chapel of the All-Romanian Saints will be finished soon?

Maria Munteanu

I think you're right, the village volunteers can help a lot with finishing touches and cleaning, like you did on the porch. At Sîngerei I heard that the priest brought a few more women from the choir to wash the windows last week, but it would work better if they made regular teams. Do you think a little announcement after the service would be needed to gather more people?

Георгий Волков

Yes, in Balti the Church of Anthony and Stephen has already grown noticeably, the walls are standing strong. In Singerei, Teodora’s pace is actually slower, I saw a photo from there a couple of weeks ago. As for the Chapel of All Romanian Saints, I wonder if the roof will be closed in time for the fall or not - have you been there recently?

Constantin Ciobanu

No, I don't think they finish the painting until next Easter, at St. Anthony and St. Stephen they still have several stages to plaster. At Sîngerei I passed by the construction site last month, you could see that they had brought new bricks, but the workers were few. What do you think, do you think they will change the contractor if he doesn't get up to speed?

Yes, Radu, the priest from Sîngerei could organize regular teams from the village, especially since the work of the women in the choir is also suitable for the finishes, as they did with the windows. In our parish, when we raised the fence, the men came on Saturdays with their own tools and it went quickly. Do you think it would help if they also announced at the choir in Balti?

Alexandru Barbu

Yes, Maria, the idea of regular teams from the village sounds good, especially since the women in the choir can really help with the finishing touches, like you did with the windows. Here in Iași, when the church was painted, the volunteers came with their small cars and finished in one day. Do you think that the priest from Sîngerei would also be able to attract the young people from Balti, not just the choir?

Sebastian Hoffmann

Yes, the progress at the Antonius and Stephen Church is really visible. We were there last fall with the community group from Frankfurt and saw how high the walls were already. Is the Chapel of the All-Romanian Saints actually co-financed by Romanian donations?

Любовь Морозова

Yes, in Balti the walls of Antoni and Stefan are really already strong, I passed by last week. In Singerei, Teodora is still slow, the forests are still standing. Have you seen the Chapel of All Romanian Saints lately or are you just following the photos?