The Metropolis of Chisinau and All Moldova has declared it unacceptable to use images of the Nativity Cathedral in promotional materials for the Moldova Pride festival.
In an official statement released by the church’s communications department, church representatives noted that, for Orthodox believers, LGBT-related promotion using the cathedral as a backdrop is perceived as disrespectful to religious feelings.
“The association of this holy place with an event that promotes views and behaviors contrary to the teachings and morality of the Orthodox Church is perceived by clergy and believers as disrespectful to their religious feelings and to the sacred nature of this church building,” the statement says.
According to the church leadership, the cathedral is not merely an architectural landmark of the capital but the principal spiritual symbol of Orthodoxy in Moldova—a place of prayer and a guardian of traditions that have shaped the country’s culture for centuries.
The Metropolis also emphasized that the festival’s agenda, which includes calls for the legal recognition of same-sex unions, directly contradicts the moral teachings of the Church.
“The Orthodox Church of Moldova respects the dignity of every person and calls for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. However, it believes that religious symbols should not be used to promote ideological or social agendas that contradict the faith these symbols represent. We call for respect for our country’s spiritual heritage and for an end to the instrumentalization of religious symbols for purposes contrary to their true meaning,” the statement reads.
It is worth noting that the annual festival, scheduled to take place in Chișinău from June 14 to June 21, 2026, is organized by the Genderdoc-M Information Center. The event will culminate in a pride march on June 21 under the slogan “Love Creates, the Law Protects.”
Organizers have stated that they intend to advocate for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Moldova, which is not currently recognized under the country’s legislation.
