Bishop Markel told the details of the detention at the Chisinau airport
Bishop Markel, who was on his way to Israel for the Holy Fire, was detained at passport control at Chisinau airport and his documents were seized without explanation. He told about it on Thursday, April 17, in an interview with Izvestia.
"They didn't explain anything, they just seized the passport, and conducted very thorough and lengthy searches. The protocol stated that there were no complaints," the bishop noted.
As the priest pointed out, all this was done purposefully so that he would not catch the flight.
At the same time, according to Markel, the search was completed 40 minutes before departure, but the passport was returned only on board the plane half an hour after departure.
Two people accompanying him were detained in the same way, the bishop added.
In addition, Markel said that similar cases of unreasonable detention had already occurred with other clergy.
"The main thing is that the Holy Fire will be brought to Moldova, despite the efforts of the opponents of this holy cause," concluded our interlocutor.
The arrest of the bishop representing the Archdiocese of Moldova became known earlier that day. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a self—governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
On April 19, a delegation from the St. Andrew's Foundation will deliver the Holy Fire from Jerusalem to Moscow.
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