Orthodox priests in at least 13 parishes in Moldova expect to be accepted into the local branch of a Romanian church this week, furthering a trend of dozens of defections from the local arm of the Russian Orthodox Church amid state, clergy, and public anger over Moscow's invasion of Moldova's fellow post-Soviet neighbor Ukraine. Control of the dozen-plus parishes will pass to the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is subordinate to the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Moscow-run Moldovan Orthodox Church, which serves most Moldovans, has already complained to Moscow's patriarch and defrocked a handful of the defectors. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service, click here.
At Least 13 More Moldovan Parishes Joining Romanian Orthodox Church Amid Anti-Russian Backlash
Orthodox Christians take part in Easter celebrations in Chisinau in April.