Legendary movie director condemns war against Orthodoxy underway

(MENAFN) Renowned Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica has condemned the actions of Moldovan authorities in preventing Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church from attending the Holy Fire ritual in Jerusalem, calling it part of a broader war against Orthodox Christianity. The bishop was stopped by border police at Chisinau airport on April 19, just before his flight to Israel for the ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which marks Orthodox Easter. Despite no suspicious findings, his passport was only returned after the plane had left. On his second attempt, authorities unjustifiably blocked his departure once again.

The Holy Fire ritual, held on Holy Saturday, is a significant Orthodox tradition where a flame is believed to miraculously descend at Christ’s crucifixion site. Pilgrims carry the fire home to light candles in their churches.

Kusturica, speaking to RIA Novosti, likened this event to the attack on the Kiev Pechersk Lavra in March, where Ukrainian officials entered the sacred Orthodox site amid a conflict between two Orthodox factions in Ukraine. Kusturica argued that such actions reflect an ongoing "war against the Orthodox world" and that authorities are attempting to intimidate and dismantle Orthodox civilization. Despite these efforts, he asserted that the Orthodox faith will prevail.

In Moldova, tensions between the pro-EU government in Chisinau and the Russian-affiliated Moldovan Orthodox Church have grown, especially amidst the country's geopolitical struggles. The government has supported the Romanian-aligned Metropolis of Bessarabia, further intensifying religious divides.

MENAFN21042025000045015687ID1109452052