On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, celebrated on September 27, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova has called the faithful to a three-day fast and intensified prayer for peace and unity of faith, both in Moldova and around the world. His message was published on the website of the Moldovan Metropolis, which is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church, encompassing about 70% of the population in Moldova and Transnistria.

On September 27, the feast day, Metropolitan Vladimir has blessed a 15-minute bell ringing at noon in all churches and monasteries. He has also encouraged the faithful to participate in the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion. This gesture, along with fasting and prayer, symbolizes the collective striving for peace and spiritual unity.

In September 2024, the Moldovan Metropolis found itself at the center of debates following initiatives to ban the activities of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, similar to the ban imposed on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. These actions led to protests in Chișinău, where believers defended the church’s heritage and demanded guarantees of religious freedom. Metropolitan Vladimir addressed the authorities, urging them to stop the pressure on the Church. President Maia Sandu distanced herself from calls for the ban and supported the Church, donating funds for the restoration of a rural church.

Photo: Moldovan Metropolis