Beloved faithful, dear citizens of the Republic of Moldova,
At this anniversary hour, as our country marks 34 years since the proclamation of independence, it is appropriate that we raise our thoughts to the Merciful God, offering Him gratitude for all the blessings bestowed upon our nation during this time.
The day of 27 August 1991 remains engraved in our memory as a moment of exaltation and hope, when, in the Great National Assembly Square, our people joyfully received the news of freedom and the affirmation of its dignity. It was the end of an era in which faith was persecuted and the believer was marginalised, and the beginning of a new stage of spiritual and national rebirth.
In these 34 years, through trials and transformations, we have learnt to move forward with patience, prayer, and labour. The Orthodox Church of Moldova has been reborn and has flourished through the sacrifice and devotion of the faithful. We have rebuilt monasteries and churches, reopened over a thousand holy places of worship, founded theological schools, and printed hundreds of works of spirituality, nourishing the souls and minds of our believers. At the same time, we have developed social centres that ease the sufferings of the needy and afflicted, bringing them comfort and hope.
Today, more than ever, it is appropriate to honour and bless all those who labour for the preservation and strengthening of our country’s independence, serving the common good with love for Christ and with certainty that only by following the path of Truth can we overcome difficulties.
The Orthodox Church of Moldova remains steadfast alongside its people, defending and promoting ancestral values, educating the younger generation in the spirit of faith, dignity, and love of nation.
I firmly believe and pray that the Republic of Moldova may become a prosperous, united, and peaceful country, where every citizen enjoys freedom, understanding, and well-being.
With archpastoral and paternal blessings,
† VLADIMIR
Metropolitan of Chișinău and All Moldova
Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova
