Department for External Church Relations
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Representative of the Ethiopian Patriarchate on the detention of a Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova at Chisinau Airport: "An uncivilized and illegal act violating human rights and trampling moral norms"
DECR Communication Service, 21.04.2025.
On April 20, 2025, in an interview with Sputnik Africa, a representative of the Ethiopian Patriarchate, Secretary of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church, Priest Daniel Seyfemihael, issued an official statement from the Ethiopian Church regarding the April 17 detention by Moldovan authorities of Archbishop Marchel of Bălți and Fălești at Chisinau Airport. The archbishop had intended to travel to the Holy Land to participate in the Ceremony of the Holy Fire:
"Attacks on religious communities and displays of disrespect toward spiritual leaders—especially Christian leaders—whatever their motivation, have never brought honor to anyone. History and fundamental principles of law bear witness to this. The uncivilized and illegal act carried out against the Moldavian hierarch violates human rights and tramples moral norms. We consider this incident yet another manifestation of the ongoing persecution of Christianity, particularly Orthodoxy. As a Church of ancient Orthodox tradition, we call upon the international community to stand in solidarity in condemning such acts and to defend the dignity of peaceful, traditional religious communities."
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