Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitan Petru Păduraru of Bessarabia Caught in Gay Sex Scandal
Romanian Patriarchate retires Petru and launches investigation.
Petru, Archbishop of Chișinău and Metropolitan of Bessarabia, announced at the end of May that he was resigning, officially citing age and health reasons; however, shortly after this announcement, sexually explicit videos allegedly showing the metropolitan with a man began circulating online. The release of the footage sparked speculation regarding a possible link between its dissemination and the decision to step down, and generated reactions and controversy in the Republic of Moldova that have damaged the reputation of the institution overseen by the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The images were published by a Romanian website. The article in question stated that Metropolitan Petru “resigned” knowing that the images would be released.
Meanwhile, the Romanian Patriarchate announced Petru’s retirement and that His Eminence Teofan, Archbishop of Iași and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, has been appointed as locum tenens.
Since the authenticity of the images has not yet been confirmed, the Metropolis of Bessarabia stated that it is awaiting the results of an expert analysis before issuing an official statement, reports Ziarul de Gardă, which notes that the first sexual misconduct allegations against the man who served as Metropolitan of Bessarabia for over 30 years were first made public as early as 2014. At that time, during a press conference, His Eminence Petru was accused of making sexual advances toward several clergymen.
The images allegedly showing Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia engaging in sexual relations with another man—some claimed it was Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, though he categorically denied it—sparked a wave of reactions on social media. While some claimed the clergyman was “morally compromised,” others said the images caused a scandal due to the Metropolis’s stance on homosexuality, according to NewsMaker.
WatchDog community expert Tatiana Cojocari stated that the scandal has caused significant damage to the image of the Metropolis of Bessarabia and that it will serve as “yet another tool for religious division.”
Journalist Vitalie Cojocari highlighted in a commentary the conflict between the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is subordinate to the Romanian Patriarchate, and the Metropolis of Moldova, which is subordinate to the Russian Patriarchate, against the backdrop of which this controversy is unfolding.
The Metropolis of Bessarabia is part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which was reactivated in 1992. Although it has fewer believers than the Metropolis of Moldova, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a significant number of priests and believers migrated to the Metropolis of Bessarabia.
“There have been journalistic investigations, testimonies from those who were abused and harassed. And yet, nothing. Just the same old excuse: ‘It’s a provocation by the Russians!” Christians in Moldova have been led by a sinister figure, devoid of grace, charisma, and culture—uneducated and morally compromised,” wrote former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Ion Sturza on social media.