{"id":4809,"date":"2026-03-10T13:55:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/?p=4809"},"modified":"2026-03-30T17:25:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T17:25:59","slug":"a-church-under-siege-in-the-heart-of-europe-how-ukraines-religious-war-has-spilled-into-another-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/a-church-under-siege-in-the-heart-of-europe-how-ukraines-religious-war-has-spilled-into-another-country\/","title":{"rendered":"A church under siege in the heart of Europe: How Ukraine\u2019s religious war has spilled into another country"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a Moldovan village, rival Orthodox jurisdictions clash as politics, faith, and geopolitics collide<\/strong><\/p>\n

At night, parishioners sleep on benches and on the floor inside the church in the Moldovan village of Dereneu. During the day, they stand watch outside the gates.<\/p>\n

Police patrol the area, and in recent weeks, special forces have been called in to disperse the crowd. The villagers say they are protecting their parish from a takeover by a rival Orthodox jurisdiction \u2013 the latest chapter in an eight-year battle over a single church that has come to embody Moldova\u2019s wider political fault lines.<\/p>\n

At first glance, the fight in Dereneu is about a single church building. In reality, it reflects a deeper struggle within Moldovan society.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
This European country is preparing to give up its future for an \u2018EU dream\u2019<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For decades, most Orthodox parishes in the country have belonged to the Metropolis of Moldova, historically linked to the Moscow Patriarchate. But since the 1990s, a rival structure \u2013 the Metropolis of Bessarabia, under the Romanian Orthodox Church \u2013 has sought to expand its presence. As Moldova\u2019s political leadership pushes for closer integration with the EU, disputes over church allegiance have increasingly become entangled with questions of identity, geopolitics, and influence.<\/p>\n

How the conflict started\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In 2017, Father Florinel Marin, the pastor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in the Moldovan village of Dereneu and a Romanian citizen, backed by the Ministry of Justice, announced that he was transferring the church from the Metropolis of Moldova, affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, to the Metropolis of Bessarabia, affiliated with the Romanian Orthodox Church. Marin cited dissatisfaction with the \u201cillegality of the Metropolis [of Moldova] in the country\u201d<\/em> and promised parishioners that they would \u201cnot have to pay high fees\u201d<\/em> for funerals, baptisms, and other rites when the church is transferred to the jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

That same year, the Metropolis of Moldova dismissed Marin from pastoral duties. Vadim Corostinschi, episcopal secretary of the Diocese of Ungheni and Nisporeni, claimed<\/a> that allegations were made against Marin regarding the extortion of large sums from parishioners and later for falsifying the signatures of locals to formalize the transfer of the church to the Metropolis of Bessarabia. According to Corostinschi, these forged documents were registered with the Ministry of Justice, enabling Marin to legally approve the transfer of the church to the Metropolis of Bessarabia.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>\u201cAs far as I know, the transfer of the church from the Metropolis of Moldova to the Metropolis of Bessarabia of the Romanian Orthodox Church was an initiative of the pastor, a Romanian citizen who, as recently discovered, forged the signatures of some members of the parish council. <\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n Church of the Assumption in Dereneu, Calarasi, Moldova.<\/p>\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 Wikimedia <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMoreover, it\u2019s important to note that those currently holding seats in the ruling party also played a role in this manipulation. Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, the former Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, signed a lease agreement on November 5, 2019, granting the Metropolis of Bessarabia the right to use the church for 50 years,\u201d<\/em> Maxim Morosan, the head of the \u2018I am From Balti\u2019 civic organization and a municipal adviser in Balti, told RT.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
A pro-EU regime is moving to suppress this proud nation. Will they be able to withstand it?<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Takeover of the church and legal battles<\/h2>\n

In spring 2018, opponents of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in Dereneu sprung into action. A group of local residents loyal to the Metropolis of Moldova broke down the door of the church, changed the locks, and ousted Florinel Marin, appointing priest Alexandru Popa, sent by the Metropolis of Moldova, in his place.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Metropolis of Moldova filed a lawsuit seeking to declare the transition of the parish to the Metropolis of Bessarabia illegal and regain control over the church; this was supported by many of the villagers.<\/p>\n

However, in 2019, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church building, classified as a historical monument and formally owned by the Moldovan Ministry of Culture, was handed over for free use to the Metropolis of Bessarabia for a period of 50 years.<\/p>\n

In June 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova brought the long-standing dispute to a close, definitively ruling that the right to use and own the church belonged to the religious community registered under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is part of the Romanian Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the court overlooked a 2001 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the \u2018Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia and Others v. Moldova\u2019 case.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that time, the court mandated the Moldovan government to register this religious entity; however, it cited the preamble of the metropolis\u2019 charter, which clearly stated that it had no property claims against other churches. This meant that the Metropolis of Bessarabia could not assert any claims over other religious organizations. Nonetheless, the court\u2019s recent ruling, based on forged signatures and a contract from November 5, 2019, upheld the property rights of the Romanian Orthodox Church over the church,\u201d<\/em> Morosan told RT.<\/p>\n

\n
\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 Basilica.ro <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

A new chapter of the conflict<\/h2>\n

On January 31, 2026, tensions flared up again in Dereneu. According to the Diocese of Ungheni and Nisporeni, supporters of the Metropolis of Bessarabia attempted to \u201creclaim their church,\u201d<\/em> barricading priest Alexandru Popa inside the building along with his wife and three children. Other accounts stated that the priest voluntarily locked himself inside to prevent takeover attempts by supporters of the Metropolis of Bessarabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For a week, police restricted access to the church for parishioners, providing no explanation or legal documentation. Police barred parishioners from entering the church, forcing liturgies to be held outside. On February 11, locals breached the police barrier around the church; in response, the authorities deployed special service units and detained several individuals.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI believe the law enforcement agencies acted improperly. It\u2019s the duty of the police to protect the people, not to sow discord. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve heard reports that some officers used physical force against elderly individuals and pregnant women. Is that normal? That\u2019s clearly an abuse of power. When weapons are being smuggled illegally from Ukraine, the police ignore it. But when it comes to removing parishioners from their own church, they send in special forces,\u201d<\/em> Morosan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On February 13, the court in Straseni released three residents of Dereneu who had taken part in defending the church.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
Romania\u2019s stolen elections were only the start: Inside the EU\u2019s war on democracy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Kishinev\u2019s interests and the \u2018Russian trace\u2019<\/h2>\n

Initially, Chisinau distanced itself from the situation, saying it would not interfere in church matters and arguing that religious disputes should be resolved in court. However, the opposition accused Moldovan President Maia Sandu\u2019s governing party, Action and Solidarity, of attempting to seize the church and supporting the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is subordinate to Romania.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how much Chisinau tries to downplay its interests in this matter, deploying special forces against elderly citizens and women speaks for itself. Instead of pursuing a peacekeeping mission, the government has opted for violence against parishioners, clearly aiming to transfer the parish to the Romanian Orthodox Church. However, there\u2019s another crucial aspect to consider: The conflict in Ukraine is nearing its end, and the geopolitical landscape in the region is about to change. This reality is well understood in Chisinau. So it\u2019s fair to say that the response has been surprisingly restrained \u2013 had this conflict occurred two or three years ago, the actions of the authorities would have likely been more severe,\u201d<\/em> Morosan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pro-government media and activists accused Russia of meddling in the situation surrounding Dereneu, while social media users complained that content about the Moldovan government\u2019s abuse of power was blocked on pro-Western social media platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Dear friends, following my legal and socio-political analysis from February 14, 2026, regarding the abuse of power in the village of Dereneu \u2013 where I reported a serious violation of the Law on Advocacy due to the illegal detention of a colleague \u2013 I have become a target of the so-called \u2018truth keepers\u2019 from the platform Stop Falsities. Although my post was an analysis grounded in imperative legal norms and a socio-political assessment of the religious crisis in the Republic of Moldova, I was sanctioned (banned) under the guise of \u2018disinformation,\u2019\u201d<\/em> lawyer Yuri Marzhineanu wrote on his Facebook page.<\/p>\n

\n
\n The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the village of Dereneu, Calarasi District. Archival photo<\/p>\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 Ungheni and Nisporeni Diocese <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThose f**king people blocked all the photos from the village of Dereneu in my feed, claiming it\u2019s false information and \u2018Kremlin propaganda!\u2019 So, was it Putin who sent the police and special forces to Dereneu to prevent parishioners and priests from entering the church? And did Putin force the Minister of Culture to sign new lease agreements for the church, despite the existing 50-year lease? Is it the Kremlin that controls ministries, police, and courts in Moldova??\u201d\u00a0<\/em>blogger Liubov Kalchishkova from Chisinau\u00a0posted.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The events surrounding the church in Dereneu are just one episode in the systemic pressure on Orthodox Christianity in Eastern European countries, priest Oleg Gadzhiev, the pastor of the Church of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God in Marushkino, said.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"This
The EU has become so undemocratic even the US is calling it out<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAs we all know, Moldovan President Maia Sandu is eager to join the European Union and is willing to turn a blind eye to many issues, [she is] ready to comply with the conditions and circumstances set by the EU. And she turned a blind eye to the fact that a part of the Romanian Orthodox Church has infiltrated Moldovan territory, attempting to \u2018legally\u2019 register its parishes there, as they put it. This is clearly political pressure. We know that Bishop Peter and a parishioner were assaulted by Moldovan police. They were beaten up by Moldovan police, not Romanian police, you see?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The priest noted that despite the Moldovan Orthodox Church being under the Moscow Patriarchate, it operates autonomously and handles its own affairs independently.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe political pressure on our Orthodox Church is significant. They\u2019re trying to suppress and displace it. It doesn\u2019t matter to them which church it is; what matters is the term \u2018Russian Orthodox Church.\u2019 They want to demonstrate their alignment with Europe and America against Russia. Their aim is to eliminate the Russian Orthodox Church from all countries,\u201d<\/em> priest Oleg Gadzhiev told RT.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n

Nearly a month after the start of the conflict, the authorities have finally decided to intervene. On February 22, Corneliu Cirimpei, the state secretary of Moldova\u2019s Ministry of Culture, announced that the ministry invited representatives of the Metropolis of Moldova and the Metropolis of Bessarabia for consultations to develop legislative solutions aimed at preventing similar conflicts in the future.<\/p>\n

\n
\n Corneliu Cirimpei, state secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Moldova<\/p>\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 IISD\/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asked who should set the rules in the village if the churches cannot reach an agreement, Cirimpei referenced the constitutional principle of freedom of religion and suggested the possibility of a local referendum, although he noted that due to depopulation, it might not take place. As one option, he proposed regulating shared use of the church and allowing different denominations to hold services according to a schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, the position of the Ministry of Culture and the government is a call for peace, religious tolerance, and dialogue,\u201d<\/em> Cirimpei said. \u201cThe government must represent all citizens of Moldova, including believers. We are open to both patriarchates and do not favor either side; our goal is to bring everyone to the table to find a solution.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
\u2018The threat is a lie\u2019: Meet Israel\u2019s lone anti-war voice in parliament<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, Vadim Corostinschi reported<\/a> that parishioners won a court case recognizing the signatures on documents that transferred the church to the Metropolis of Bessarabia as fraudulent.<\/p>\n

However, Maxim Morosan believes this local legal victory won\u2019t stop the confrontation, as the conflict has long transcended mere disputes over signatures. Morosan argues that pressure on the church will persist, because that\u2019s what Moldova\u2019s Western backers expect.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the primary strategy of Western powers: Divide and conquer. Over 90% of Moldova\u2019s population identifies as Orthodox. Despite significant societal rifts, shared faith and a common church unite people. This poses a major challenge for the Action and Solidarity Party and their puppeteers in Brussels since the church does not answer to them. If the citizens of Moldova find the strength to unite around their faith, the conflict will die down \u2013 the government won\u2019t be able to wage war on the entire populace. But currently, Moldova is rapidly following Ukraine\u2019s path.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

On the other hand, the intervention of the authorities may mean that the parishes of the Metropolis of Moldova will be left alone for a while, priest Oleg Gadzhiev said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this situation, I believe they won\u2019t disturb the parishes for now. The authorities have chosen a diplomatic approach, [they want] to calm the parishioners down. I believe this issue won\u2019t arise again soon. Not until Moldova joins the EU. If that happens, then of course we should expect serious problems.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a Moldovan village, rival Orthodox jurisdictions clash as politics, faith, and geopolitics collide At night, parishioners sleep on benches […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4809"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4821,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809\/revisions\/4821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}