Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion in Moldova, with 95.0% of the population identifying with the faith according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. While the Moldovan Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and separation of church and state, it explicitly acknowledges the “exceptional importance” of Eastern Orthodoxy in the nation’s history and culture.
The Orthodox Schism and Jurisdictions
The Orthodox landscape in Moldova is split between two major competing jurisdictions, a division heavily influenced by geopolitics:
- Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova (Moldovan Orthodox Church): This is the largest church body, operating as an autonomous branch under the Russian Orthodox Church. It historically holds the highest number of parishes and is the dominant religious force in the breakaway region of Transnistria.
- Metropolis of Bessarabia (Bessarabian Orthodox Church): This is an autonomous branch under the Romanian Orthodox Church. In recent years, geopolitical tensions—most notably the war in neighboring Ukraine—have prompted an increasing number of priests and parishes to switch from the Russian-affiliated church to the Romanian-affiliated branch.
- Calendar Differences: The two churches follow different calendars. The Moldovan Orthodox Church observes holidays using the old Julian calendar (celebrating Christmas in January), while the Metropolis of Bessarabia uses the revised Julian/Gregorian calendar (celebrating in December).
Religious Demographics
While Eastern Orthodoxy defines the cultural identity of most Moldovans, actual weekly church attendance remains low, with many practicing “cultural orthodoxy” tied to major life milestones and holidays.
Minority Christian denominations and non-believers make up the remainder of the population:
| Affiliation | Population Percentage |
|---|---|
| Eastern Orthodox | 95.0% |
| Baptist | 1.1% |
| No Religious Affiliation | 0.8% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 0.7% |
| Atheist | 0.6% |
| Pentecostal | 0.5% |
| Seventh-day Adventist | 0.3% |
Data source: 2024 Population and Housing Census preliminary findings.
Historical Context
Christianity in the region dates back centuries. The earliest recorded Christian structure was the Catholic Diocese of Cumania in 1227, but Orthodox leadership established strong roots by the late 14th century under the Principality of Moldavia. During the Soviet era, religious practice was aggressively suppressed, and many churches were closed or repurposed. Following independence in 1991, Moldova experienced a massive spiritual resurgence, resulting in the rebuilding of monasteries and the re-establishment of the church as a trusted societal institution.
Links for further overview of Moldova:
Stichting HEALING THE NATIONS 