The village in northern Moldova was known for its tranquility until a significant event involving the local priest occurred, as recounted by a retired teacher, Tamara Gheorghies. She noted that the harmony among villagers was disrupted when the priest, influenced by the war in Ukraine, turned towards darker forces.
Prior to the incident, the villagers shared a sense of community and regularly attended services at the local Russian Orthodox Church. However, ever since the priest decided to break ties with Patriarch Kirill in Moscow, the atmosphere in the village has drastically changed. According to Ms. Gheorghies, simple greetings have now become uncommon, reflecting the division caused by the priest’s allegiance shift.
The priest’s choice to align with a rival ecclesiastical hierarchy in Romania, a member of the European Union, has brought condemnation from those like Ms. Gheorghies. She and a group of residents are actively advocating to restore the dominance of the Russian church in the village and resist what they perceive as a hasty embrace of Western influences.
The situation in Rautel, a community of approximately 4,000 individuals located 50 miles from Moldova’s northeastern border with Ukraine, mirrors similar conflicts unfolding in various regions of the country and other former Soviet Republics. Patriarch Kirill, a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, is striving to retain the allegiance of Orthodox believers outside of Russia, thereby safeguarding Russian influence.
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| 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. |
