The mutual impact of medieval Moldova’s spiritual relations with the outside world is reflected in a book titled “Moldavia’s Relations with Orthodox Settlements Abroad”, signed by history teacher and university lecturer Viorel Bolduma and priest Maxim Melinti, bishop of the “Holy Virgin Protection” church situated in Ghidighici village. The participants in the book launch agreed that the bilateral impact was ensured by “faith and books”, IPN reports.
One of the authors, priest Maxim Melinti, said that the work is part of Moldavia’s contribution to the integration into the European community, taking into account the contribution that Moldavia made, alongside Wallachia, to culture and spirituality, which constituted a guard of honor against the invasion of the Ottoman Empire to protect the treasure that today we admire in European capitals and museums, European universities and libraries. In the book, he elucidated specifically the subject of donations made over the centuries by Moldavia in support of Orthodox countries that at that certain period were dominated by the Ottoman Empire and didn’t have an easy life. The rulers of Moldavia offered significant gifts to support the life of Christians beyond Wallachia and Moldavia.
The author noted that in the documentation process, he used information not only from the country, but also from libraries in Greece, Germany, Romania and visited Mount Athos more than once, where he had the opportunity to familiarize himself with Orthodox life and culture.
National Library director general Elena Pintilei said that it is a book that has consistent bibliography and represents a scientific achievement that highlights part of the collections of the National Library, but also of the Romanian space in general. “It is a brick laid to the history of Christianity, the history of Moldavia and, why not, to the history of Europe as Christianity in Europe resisted also thanks to personalities, to the forerunners of Moldavia who also promoted diplomacy appropriate to those times, communicating with the Ottoman Porte, but also supporting the churches,” stated Elena Pintilei.
Academician Andrei Eşanu said that the authors of the book knew how to place the matter in such a way that it is more easily perceived, whether it goes to the ties with the Eastern Orthodox patriarchates or to the ties with Mount Athos, but also with Christians in the Kingdom of Poland, with the Orthodox communities in Kiev. Moldavia’s relations with the Orthodox centers in Eastern and also Northeastern Europe hadn’t been systemized so far and the book is valuable therefore. The authors are pioneers who focus on a not sufficiently studied part of our past and complete everything that has been achieved so far, with many new and beautiful things.
The first edition of the book was published in 2018. The new edition includes additional information. It is addressed to historians, professors, students of the faculties of history and theology, the general public interested in the researched topic. The book “Moldavia’s Relations with Orthodox Settlements Abroad” is available from bookstores and libraries in the country.
