Archbishop Marchel blocked from Jerusalem trip sparks controversy
Archbishop Marchel of Bălți and Fălești turned back from Chisinau Airport after missing his flight to Tel Aviv on the evening of April 17.
The incident was widely circulated on networks linked to the fugitive Ilan Șor, provoking reactions from the opposition. Socialists, as well as leaders of parties affiliated with Șor, claim that the archbishop was "deliberately blocked" from participating in the delivery of the Holy Fire from Jerusalem.
However, the Border Police clarified that Marchel was late for boarding, and the Moldovan Metropolis confirmed to Teleradio-Moldova that he was not part of the official delegation going to Jerusalem.
When contacted for comment, Archbishop Marchel, who is part of the Moldovan Metropolis affiliated with the Russian Patriarchate, initially did not respond to our calls. Later, although he answered the call, he avoided the discussion after we identified ourselves. In a statement for "Primul în Moldova" – a station allegedly controlled by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor – Marchel said he had been searched without being told why: "I never understood why I wasn’t allowed to go to Israel."
When asked for a comment, representatives from the Border Police did not respond to our calls. However, the spokesperson for the institution, Ilona Răilean, told ZdG that "standard processing procedures were applied to Marchel, but because he arrived late, the control procedures were completed after boarding for the scheduled flight."
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Moldovan Metropolis, Bishop Ioan Moșneguțu of Soroca and Drochia, told Teleradio-Moldova that he learned about the incident from the press and did not know the details. "It is regrettable that His Eminence was unable to reach the Holy Land," he said.
When asked whether Marchel was part of the official delegation of the Moldovan Metropolis that had departed for Jerusalem, Moșneguțu clarified that he was not: "According to the decision of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the members of the delegation from the Metropolis were Bishop Filaret of Căpriana and Bishop Patroclus of Dondușeni, vicar of the Diocese of Edineț and Briceni. Of course, there are also lay pilgrims."
He added that the delegation left on a different flight on Monday morning, April 15. Regarding Marchel’s intention to go to Israel, Moșneguțu mentioned that he could have received additional blessings beyond the Synod’s decision, or perhaps the archbishop decided on his own to travel to the Holy Land. "He has every right to make that decision," Moșneguțu concluded.
UPDATE 18:01: The Russian Patriarchate has called for sanctions.
In an official statement, the Russian Patriarchate described the incident at Chisinau as "a serious violation of religious freedom" and "an example of discriminatory politics," which, according to the Orthodox Church, aims to "illegally restrict the rights of believers of the Orthodox Church of Moldova."
"We call for an investigation into this incident, the identification, and punishment of those responsible for violating the rights of Archbishop Marchel of Bălți and Fălești."
The Holy Light from Jerusalem will also arrive in Moldova this year, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Holy Fire will be brought by delegations from both Orthodox Metropolises in the country.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
