Moldova launched ‘malicious attack’ on Orthodox Church – Moscow

Chisinau has disrespected the Moldovan people by preventing a bishop from traveling to Jerusalem, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said

The authorities in Moldova have launched a deliberate attack on the canonical Orthodox Church by barring a bishop from attending an Easter ceremony in Jerusalem, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church was scheduled to fly to Israel on Thursday to attend the Holy Fire ritual on April 19 and bring back part of the flame believed to descend miraculously at the site of Christ’s crucifixion. He told the media that border police at Chisinau airport searched him and returned his passport only after his plane had departed, despite finding nothing suspicious. His second attempt to board a flight was also “unjustifiably” blocked by Moldovan authorities.

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