Priest Maxim Melinti was given back the right to preach together with his parish in Chisinau’s suburban village of Ghidighici, after last week he apologized as requested by the Moldovan Orthodox Church.

The UN-awarded priest enjoyed popularity thanks to his inclusive and modern attitudes towards many issues that are considered taboo within the Church, like gender equality or the love-thy-neighbor attitude towards the LGBT community. This apparently vexed the Moldovan Church, but the last straw was when Melinti accepted a diploma of recognition from the Genderdoc-M, Moldova’s leading LGBT rights organization.

On June 21, Metropolitan Vladimir stripped Melinti of the right to officiate until “complete repentance”. The move gave rise to a wave of support of the priest and criticism against the Moldovan Church. The priest apologized shortly, albeit half-heartedly, without giving up his inclusive attitude. The Church didn’t accept the apology and gave the parish to another priest.

On August 1, the priest apologized for a second time, disavowing any cooperation with the LGBT community and stating that he “hadn’t understand for far too long that in church one must not preach what is new, but what is old”. Maxim Melinti also dissociated himself from any critical comments made by his supporters against Metropolitan Vladimir and the Church. Genderdoc-M reacted by saying it was regretting, yet understanding the decision.