CHISINAU, Feb 23 - Moldova's government, known for its strong opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, urged the country's clergy on Sunday to reveal the "truth" about the conflict, emphasizing that Moscow's military operations had led to the destruction of approximately 500 places of worship.
Government spokesperson, Daniel Voda, made the appeal on the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, amidst a split occurring within Moldova's Orthodox Church creating competing factions aligned respectively with Russia and Romania.
Over 90 percent of church attendees in Moldova, situated between Ukraine and Romania, follow the Orthodox Church.
The invasion, enthusiastically supported by Russia's Orthodox Church, has prompted a significant shift of parishes from Moldova's predominantly Moscow-affiliated Moldova Metropolis to the smaller Romania-connected church, the Metropolis of Bessarabia.
Since the invasion, still referred to as a "Special Military Operation" in Russia, more than 60 parishes have switched their allegiance in the country with a population of 2.5 million.
"Since the start of the invasion, more than 500 churches, synagogues, and mosques have been destroyed or damaged. That averages to one every two days," Voda emphasized in his plea.
"Remain not silent. Share the truth with the world. The aggression is not merely a territorial conflict; it is the desecration of sacred places."
Metropolitan Vladimir of the Moldova Metropolis linked to Moscow highlighted that his church condemned the invasion "right from the beginning" and organized support for over 90,000 Ukrainian refugees, the highest number per capita in Europe.
"During every service, I include a special prayer seeking mercy for the church and peace to end the conflict in Ukraine," Vladimir stated in a 2023 interview.
"I openly refer to it as the 'war in Ukraine' during the prayer. My prayers are not directed towards (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."
Media reports have indicated support from some priests of the Russian-affiliated church towards the Russian invasion in certain parishes. However, Reuters could not verify these reports independently. The church also admitted that groups of priests made visits to holy sites in Russia last year, sponsored by Russian funds.
The internal division within the church mirrors Moldova's complicated history, with a significant part of its current land having been under the rule of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union, as well as "Greater Romania" at different points in time.
The Bessarabia-linked Metropolis, increasingly associated with Moldova's aspiration to join the European Union by 2030, signifies these intricate relations.