The Ecclesiastical Rift in Rautel

The village in northern Moldova was known for its tranquility until a dramatic turn of events involving the local priest, described as succumbing to Satan by a retired teacher in the area. Prior to this incident, villagers lived harmoniously, sharing Sunday services at the same Russian Orthodox Church.

Tamara Gheorghies, the retired teacher, expressed how the once friendly community now lacks basic greetings amongst its members. She attributes this shift to the village priest’s decision to break away from Patriarch Kirill in Moscow, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Moscow Patriarch has historically held the allegiance of Orthodox Christians in the former Soviet Union. However, in a surprising move in March, the village priest opted to align with a rival ecclesiastical hierarchy in neighboring Romania, a member of the European Union.

Ms. Gheorghies lamented the priest’s choice, stating, “He has taken the path of terrible sin,” echoing the sentiments of a group of residents striving to reinstate the Russian church’s authority and resist what they perceive as a hasty embrace of Western influences.

This rift over ecclesiastical loyalty is unfolding in Rautel, a village with around 4,000 inhabitants located 50 miles from Moldova’s northeastern border with Ukraine. It is just one of many such disputes occurring throughout the country and other former Soviet Republics.

Patriarch Kirill, a fervent supporter of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, has been actively working to retain the allegiance of Orthodox believers beyond Russia, thereby upholding Russian influence in the region.

Photo Caption: Children playing in a Rautel Park, next to the village’s Orthodox church. The Moscow Patriarch has for decades commanded the loyalty of Orthodox Christians across the former Soviet Union. Credit: Andreea Campeanu for The New York Times