Moldova's constitution provides for freedom of religion and complete separation of church and state, though the constitution cites the "exceptional importance" ofEastern Orthodox Christianity.[2]Discrimination on the basis of religious affiliation is illegal, andincitement to religious and ethnic hatred was made illegal in May 2022.[2] Moldovans are overwhelmingly adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy. According to the 2024 Moldovan census, 95.2 per cent of the country reported to be of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith.[3] Of this number, around eighty to 90 per cent of Orthodox Moldovans belong to the Moldovan Orthodox Church (formally known asMetropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova) which is subordinate to theRussian Orthodox Church, and has played a powerful role in deepening Russia's influence in Moldova.[2][4] The remaining 10–20 per cent of Orthodox Moldovans belong to theMetropolis of Bessarabia, which is subordinate to theRomanian Orthodox Church.[2]
Of the non-Orthodox population of Moldova, theUnited States Department of State estimates that as of 2022 approximately seven per cent identify with no religion;Baptists,Jehovah's Witnesses, andPentecostals number between 15,000-30,000 each; theJewish Community of the Republic of Moldova organisation estimates theJewish population to be approximately 20,000; and the Islamic League of Moldova (anNGO recognised by theMoldovan Ministry of Justice in 2011 as representingMoldovan Muslims[5]) estimates the number of Muslims to be between 15,000–17,000.[2] There are sixsynagogues inChișinău, one inOrhei, one inSoroca, and one inTiraspol, and one mosque inChișinău. The remaining less than five per cent of the Moldovan population areSeventh-day Adventists,Evangelical Christians,Roman Catholics,Lutherans, andatheists.[2] TheTransnistrian authorities estimate that 80 per cent of the population belong to the Moldovan Orthodox Church.[2]
The 1992 Law on Religions, which codifies religious freedoms, contains restrictions that inhibit the activities of unregistered religious groups. Although the law was amended in 2002, many of the restrictions remain in place. The law provides for freedom of religious practice, including each person's right to profess his or her religion in any form. It also protects the confidentiality of the confessional, allows denominations to establish associations and foundations, and states that the Government may not interfere in the religious activities of denominations. The law specifies that "to organize and function", religious organizations must be registered with the Government, and unregistered groups may not own property, engage employees, or obtain space in public cemeteries in their own names.
The primary religion isChristianity, 95.2 per cent of the population nominally beingEastern Orthodox according to data of the 2024 census.[3] Administratively, there are twoautonomous churches belonging to twoautocephalous churches (Russian and Romanian) within the Eastern Orthodoxcommunion. The autonomousMetropolis of Chişinău and Moldova (belonging to theRussian Orthodox Church), according to the State Service on Religious Issues, has 1,194 parishes; the autonomousMetropolis of Bessarabia (belonging to theRomanian Orthodox Church) has 124 parishes. Besides followers of theRussian Orthodox Old-Rite Church (Old Believers) make up approximately 0.09 per cent of the population.
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During the 2004 census, 93.34 per cent of the population declared themselves to be Eastern Orthodox.[6] 80–90 per cent of Orthodox Moldovans belong to the Moldovan Orthodox Church (formally known asMetropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova) which is subordinate to theRussian Orthodox Church, and has played a powerful role in deepening Russia's influence in Moldova.[2][4] The remaining 10–20 per cent of Orthodox Moldovans belong to theMetropolis of Bessarabia, which is subordinate to theRomanian Orthodox Church.[2]
The religious traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy are entwined with the culture and patrimony of the country. Many self-professed atheists routinely celebrate religious holidays, cross themselves, and even light candles and kiss icons if local tradition and the occasion demand.[citation needed]
Moldova forms a single diocese, theRoman Catholic Diocese of Chişinău. It is not part of anyecclesiastical province, and therefore depends directly upon theHoly See forMetropolitan authority. About 0.5 per cent of Moldovans adhere to the Catholic faith.
There are also a growing number ofSeventh-day Adventists,Evangelical Christians, andLutherans.[2]Baptists,Jehovah's Witnesses, andPentecostals number between 15,000-30,000 each.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) has two congregations in the country, and a combined total of approximately 455 members.[7]
Judaism is a minority religion in Moldova, but Jews have lived in the region since the 1st centuryAD whenRoman Jews lived in the cities of the province ofLower Moesia.Bessarabian Jews have been living in the area for some time. Between the 4th-7th centuriesAD, Moldova was part of an important trading route betweenAsia andEurope, and bordered theKhazar Khaganate, whereJudaism was the state religion. Prior to theSecond World War, violent antisemitic movements across theBessarabian region badly affected the region's Jewish population. In the 1930s and 40s, under the Romanian governments ofOctavian Goga andIon Antonescu, government-directed pogroms and mass deportations led to the concentration and extermination of Jewish citizens followed, leading to the extermination of between 45,000-60,000 Jews across Bessarabia. The total number ofRomanian andUkrainian Jews who perished in territories under Romanian administration is between 280,000 and 380,000.
Today, the Jewish community in Moldova has been revived and are primarily represented by the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova (JCM) organisation. The group was registered in its current form in 1997, but its roots stretch back to founding of the Union of Jewish Communities in Bessarabia on 3 November 1935. The group estimate that the total population of Moldovan Jews in 2022 to be around 20,000.
TheWorld Jewish Congress (of which the JCM is an affiliate member) states that there has been "a widespread development of a national self-consciousness and a return to their roots by the Jews of Moldova, withJewish identity andculture being celebrated in a number of forms". Diplomatic relations withIsrael began in 1992 and theIsraeli consulate is located in the capital city,Chişinău. Since 2014, Moldova has been an observer country to theInternational Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and since 2019 has adopted the IHRAWorking Definition of Antisemitism for official use. The Museum of Jewish History was opened inOrhei on 30 January 2023.
The Islamic League of Moldova (Liga Islamică din Moldova) estimates that there are approximately 17,000 Muslims in Moldova.[2] The Islamic League was registered with Moldova'sMinistry of Justice in March 2011 and therefore received official government recognition of its role as a representative of Moldova's Muslim community. It is the first legally recognised Muslim association in Moldova.[8] There is one mosque in Moldova, located in the capital city,Chişinău.
Although the Constitution of Moldova protects freedom of religion in theory, in practice Muslims in Moldova often face discrimination, especially from local government and theOrthodox Church. The municipal government of Chişinău has repeatedly refused requests by the Islamic League of Moldova "allot a plot of land for the Muslim community at the state-run cemetery", in violation of Moldovan law which "provides the right to burial space in public cemeteries for all registered religious groups. The mayoralty rejected both requests sent by the community in January and in March [2022]."[2] Prior to the groups registration in 2011, "Drop-ins by police on worship services were regularly reported, as well as alleged harassment."[9]
Following the 2011 recognition of the Islamic League of Moldova, theBishop of theMetropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova,Vladimir (Cantarean), described the formal recognition of the Muslim association as "a humiliation" for Moldova's Christians. "Other senior church officials suggested that the Muslim association will seek to "cause trouble" in Moldova."[8] FormerPresident of Moldova,Vladimir Voronin, also condemned the registration.[8] Members of the Moldovan public organised a protest march in May of 2011. Attenders of the rally madeIslamophobic claims that "the Muslims are like a virus. If you let in just a few they will multiply," and that "Muslims would introducepolygamy and "harems" to Moldova. And a priest named Gheorghe was quoted by local media as saying at the rally that the Muslims "are all instructed interrorism."[10]
Nevertheless, as of 2016, theOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that Muslims are "thriving" in Moldova.[11] Following the personal involvement ofUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or BeliefHeiner Bielefeldt after these protests, as well as the personal actions ofMinister of Justice,Alexandru Tonase, the situation was calmed down and the protests came to an end.[11] Veaceslav Balan, UN Human Rights Office Coordinator in Moldova said that Islamophobia is still, however, "a major challenge facing Muslims today in the country."[11]
According to a survey conducted in 2014, by the Institute of Public Policy in Moldova, 80 per cent of the respondents show a high degree of trust in the Church as an institution, but 85 per cent consider that the church should remain separate from the political sphere and 76 per cent consider that the church should not become involved with governmental issues.
Also, the survey showed that 58 per cent of the respondents go to church less than once per month and ten per cent do not go at all.[12]
Although the Constitution declares the separation of church and state, theMoldovan Orthodox Church (Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova under the Russian Orthodox Church) is sometimes active in political debate.[13]
InJune 2010 MetropolitanVladimir featured in the campaign advertisements of Valeriu Pasat, apparently endorsing his candidacy.
In October 2015 the same Orthodox Church leveraged its authority in a failed attempt to influence the trial of former prime ministerVlad Filat, who was accused of passive corruption and traffic of influence.[14][15]
In December 2015 the Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova challenged the State Tax Service of the Republic of Moldova, refusing to provide revenue reports, although religious organizations lost their tax-exempt status in 2013.[16]
In 2016, on the eve of the first round of thepresidential elections, metropolitan bishop Vladimir called on church members to cast their votes forIgor Dodon, the pro-Russian leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. A group of Moldovan clergy of the same church, headed by bishopMarchel, later called on citizens to vote for Igor Dodon in the November election runoff, stating that the Socialist candidate supported the Orthodox Church, while his competitorMaia Sandu would fight against it.[17]
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