Moldovan, Transdniestrian Leaders Visit Mount Athos with Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitan

Moldovan Prime Minister Vladimir Filat and President Yevgeniy V. Shevchuk of the breakaway state of Transdniestria in eastern Moldova have begun a joint pilgrimage with Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of the Moldovan Orthodox Church to Mount Athos. The leaders are described as being "on a private visit to jointly pray at the ancient monasteries on Mount Athos." The pilgrimage is the latest in a series of informal contacts between the two. More here.

Milan Synod Archbishop to Visit Chisinau, San Francisco

Archbishop Abbondio of Como, auxiliary to Metropolitan Evloghios of the Old Calendrist Milan Synod, is set to visit Metropolitan Vladimir (Canterean) of the Moldovan Orthodox Church next month in Chisinau, after which he will make a pilgrimage to the relics of St. John the Wonderworker in San Francisco. The agenda for Archbishop Abbondio's meeting with Metropolitan Vladimir has not been announced, but doubtless pertains to the reception of the Milan Synod into the Moscow Patriarchate. More (in Italian) here.

Ecumenical Patriarch, Metropolitan of Chisinau Meet in Constantinople

Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of the Moldovan Orthodox Church has met with Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople at the close of a pilgrimage to the holy places of Turkey. During their visit the two first hierarchs discussed the development of church life in Moldova and the former USSR and also in Turkey. More (in Romanian) here.

Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau Interviewed on Moldovan Orthodoxy, Relations with the EU

In an interview Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of the Moldovan Orthodox Church has accused the European Union of trying to use loans to the Moldovan government as a means of enacting laws in Moldova "alien to [Moldovan] spiritual and moral traditions." During the interview Metropolitan Vladimir also expressed his opposition to the official registration of Moldova's Muslim League and his hope for the Synaxis of All the Saints of Moldova to be included in the general calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. More (in Russian) here.

Constantinopolitan, Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitans Meet in Chisinau

As part of his ongoing visit to Moldova with relics of St. Demetrius the Great-Martyr Metropolitan Panteleimon of Berea of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in Greece has met with Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau at the seat of the Moldovan Orthodox Church in Chisinau. The two discussed possible areas of cooperation between their respective Churches and compared religious education in Greece with efforts to develop religious education in Moldova. More (in Romanian) here.

Right to Life Rally in Chisinau

In honor of today's observance of International Children's Day pro-life organizations and the Moldovan Orthodox Church have organized a march in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, to support the right to life of unborn children. Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau blessed the holding of the march and sent one of his clergymen to represent him as he was unable to attend in person. More (in Romanian) here.

Moldovan Muslims Disappointed by Anti-Muslim Remarks

The leader of Moldova's Islamic League has expressed disappointment over anti-Muslim remarks made in recent months by Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau of the Moldovan Orthodox Church and members of the Moldovan government, saying that the country's small Muslim minority is not interested in the fundamentalism sweeping the Middle East and is more concerned with building good relations with the other religions present in Moldova. More here.

Interview with Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau

An interesting Romanian-language interview with Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau on the situation of the Moldovan Orthodox Church and Romanians from Moldova abroad can be found here.

Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau on the Roma

During the celebrations in Moldova last week marking the International Day of the Roma the Moldovan Orthodox Church's Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau sent a message noting the great suffering the Roma underwent during World War II and saying in part that, "Every small nation, every ethnicity has the right to exist and peaceful existence because 'there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free...'" During the celebrations the leader of Moldova's Roma, Arthur, was awarded the Order of St. Paisius (Velichkovskiy) of Neamts. More here.

Milan Synod Begins Dialogue with Moscow Patriarchate

The Milan Synod has formally broken its ties with its sister Old Calendrist synods in Bulgaria, Greece, and North America as part of its dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate concerning its reception into the Russian Orthodox Church. The communities of the Milan Synod have been directed to commemorate Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow and Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau in all their divine services in addition to Metropolitan Evloghios of Milan, who remains first hierarch of the Milan Synod. More here.

Moldovan Orthodox Local Synod Meets in Chisinau

The Local Synod of the Moldovan Orthodox Church met today under Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau to discuss recent changes to Moldova's laws regulating religious organizations. The hierarchs also discussed the expansion of the Church's local involvement in providing social services (in particular health issues and abuse) to the Moldovan public and the upcoming visit of Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow to Moldova this October. More here.

Milan Synod in Europe Confirms Desire for Union with Russian Orthodox Church

Archbishop Abbondio of Como, an auxiliary to the First Hierarch of the Milan Synod in Western Europe, has confirmed that the Milan Synod is pursuing reception into the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church and does not have any ties with the various Old Calendrist and traditionalist movements in the former USSR. He noted in particular the Milan Synod's apparently close ties with Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau. More here.

The day before Archbishop Abbondio's comments vis-a-vis the Milan Synod in Europe and the Moscow Patriarchate the Milan Synod's sister church in North America reaffirmed its opposition to communion with the mainstream Local Orthodox Churches. More on that here.

Pictured is Bishop Abbondio at a recent service in Milan, Italy.

Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Portugal

This past weekend Metropolitan Vladimir (Cantarean) of Chisinau and All Moldova made a pastoral visit to the Russian Orthodox parish of St. Xenia of Petersburg in Faro, Portugal, which includes many Romanians from Moldova in its membership. During his visit he will also be visiting the Russian Orthodox parish of All Saints in Lisbon. More here.