Ghenadie Valuta, who heads the Association “Pro-Ortodoxia”, said the parishioners of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chisinau are dissatisfied with the fact that concerts are given in front of the Cathedral. In a news conference at IPN, the priest stated that the Chisinau City Hall has an unfriendly attitude towards the parishioners of the Moldovan Metropolitan Church and provokes those who come to pray at the Cathedral by staging concerts right before it.

The icon of Saint Matrona was brought to the Cathedral several days ago. The faithful people stand in line in order to see it and pray to it. Ghenadie Valuta said a concert was given several meters from the Cathedral’s door and the organizers said the Metropolitan Church allowed them to organize the concert there. But Metropolitan Bishop Vladimir didn’t allow something like this, while the organizers were advised to set up the stage behind the belfry so that there was a phonic barrier and the parishioners could pray in quietness.

Ghenadie Valuta noted that his statements are not political in character even if they are made before the second round of the local elections, but considers that the current mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca resorts to provocations as this often told him that he was “the Kremlin’s agent”.

According to Ghenadie Valuta, the parishioners demand stopping and even banning the holding of concerts that can disrupt the religious ceremonies. Moreover, there will be collected signatures from people who are against holding concerts on the territory between the entrance to the Cathedral and the belfry.

Recently, Metropolitan Bishop Vladimir sent a letter to Dorin Chirtoaca, saying a number of complaints came to the Metropolitan Church’s administration after cultural-artistic events took place in the square of the Chisinau Cathedral “God’s Birth”. The parishioners expressed their indignation at the fact that the area is regularity used for large-scale events that are incompatible with the spiritual purpose of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

The letter also says that even if the artistic and cultural value of the concerts is not challenged, there are yet other places in central Chisinau where these could be staged successfully, without disturbing the faithful. In this connection, the Metropolitan Bishop asked that no nonreligious events should be held in the square of the Cathedral so as not to affect the spiritual purpose of this place.