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Bessarabia new Metropolitan Antonie chairs first meeting of Chisinau Archdiocese leadershiptranslated

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

On Monday, July 13, just a day after his enthronement as Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, and Exarch of the Territories, Metropolitan Antonie led the inaugural working session of the Standing Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of Chisinau.

The meeting took place at the Diocesan Center in Chisinau and marked the beginning of the Archdiocese's administrative activity under the coordination of the new metropolitan.

At the opening of the session, His Eminence addressed the diocesan counselors with a message of blessing and appreciation, thanking them for the responsibility they have assumed and for their contributions to the development of the Archdiocese of Chisinau and the Metropolis of Bessarabia through their administrative, pastoral, and missionary work.

The members of the Standing Committee then presented reports on the progress of projects and activities within each department. The meeting reviewed the main pastoral, administrative, social-charitable, educational and cultural challenges facing the Archdiocese, as well as development priorities for the coming period.

Activity priorities During the meeting, several priorities were…

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

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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Владимир Макаров

It’s good that the new metropolitan immediately got down to business and gathered everyone for the first meeting. It’s interesting what priorities they set for social and educational projects—more on that.

Ольга Попова

It’s good that immediately after his enthronement he got to work and gathered everyone. It’s interesting what they decided on social issues and education, as Vladimir wrote. Here in Kazan, such advice also helps when priorities are set on works of mercy.

Григорий Голубев

It’s good that the new metropolitan immediately got down to business, without hesitation. In Belarus, after such meetings, we often see how charity is linked with education - for example, through Sunday schools at churches. And in Kazan, what exactly do you prioritize for mercy, Olga, please share?

Любовь Андреева

I agree, Vladimir, it’s good that I didn’t delay. But they really didn’t write much about priorities for schools and helping the elderly, they only mentioned them. Maybe they'll tell you more at the next meeting?

Petru Barbu

It's good that the new Metropolitan Antonie started directly with a concrete meeting at the Diocesan Center in Chisinau, without wasting time. The article says they discussed pastoral and social priorities, but it doesn't even say what they decided on helping the elderly or Sunday schools. Maybe at the next meeting he will give more details, because here in Sibiu this is how the results are seen.

Anthony Brown

Good to see Metropolitan Antonie getting straight into it the day after enthronement. The bit about reviewing social-charitable and educational priorities makes sense – our parish council here in Melbourne always starts the same way, linking the Sunday school roster with visits to the aged care home. Hope the next report shares a couple of concrete examples from Chișinău.

Sophia Young

Good point about jumping straight in the next day – shows real drive. Our parish links the Sunday school kids with the local nursing home too, though it's usually just once a term because the little ones tire quickly. Any chance the Chișinău team mentioned specific social projects they'll tackle first?

Ioana Radu

Well said, Petru, a concrete meeting from the beginning is better than long speeches. In our parish, we have seen that help for the elderly starts from a simple list made by the priest with the volunteers, not from thick reports. Do you think it would be good if they also send a circular to the parishes with these priorities, so that we also know what to help?

Ксения Фёдорова

Yes, Lyubov, it’s good that you got down to business right away. They really didn’t say almost anything about schools and helping the elderly, they just listed them in general terms. It’s interesting, maybe next time they’ll tell you exactly what projects are already underway in our shelters for the elderly.

Mark Baker

Yeah, jumping in the next day does show real drive. Our parish here in Sydney does something similar with the Sunday school kids visiting the aged care home down the road, but we keep it to short visits too – the little ones run out of steam fast. They didn’t list any specific social projects in the article, just mentioned reviewing the charitable side; did your nursing home link start with the priest’s idea or the parents’?