Formation of the diocese of Chișinău and Khotin (1813)

The article focuses on the history of the establishment of the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Bessarabian region of Chișinău and Khotin in the aft ermath of the war with Turkey. Initially, the authorities of the Russian Empire intended to subordinate the local church institutions to the Holy Synod upon the annexation of the Danube Principalities, an action seemingly modeled on the precedent set by the Georgian Church. However, the deployment of French military forces in proximity to the Russian border necessitated the prompt establishment of peace between the Russian and Ottoman militaries by the Russian military leadership on the Danube. This geopolitical context precluded the acquisition of these territories by the Russian Empire, compelling the Russian side to focus its territorial ambitions on Bessarabia alone. Following the ratifi cation of the Peace of Bucharest (1812) in the Transnistrian region of the Moldavian Principality, the organizational framework for the establishment of local authorities, including those of a religious nature, was initiated. Metropolitan Gavriil (G. Bănulescu-Bodoni), who successfully completed all the planned activities within the shortest possible timeframe, was entrusted with the formation of the local diocese. By the close of 1812, the local diocese in Chișinău had already commenced its operations, entrusted with the oversight of over 750 parishes and more than 10 monasteries and sketes. In early 1813, the opening of the fi rst educational institution in Bessarabia was realized through the efforts of Metropolitan Gavriil, in the form of a theological seminary, which soon began to operate a noble boarding school for the children of the local nobility. Also in 1814, Gavriil’s efforts resulted in the opening of a printing house at the bishop’s residence in Chișinău, which printed books in the Slavonic and Moldavian languages. It is also noteworthy that the exarch had conceived the idea of founding a printing house during the construction of the diocesan house and built a separate building for it, even before receiving the approval of the tsarist authorities. By the mid-1814, Metropolitan Gavriil’s efforts had resulted in the full operationalization of the dioceses of Chișinău and Khotin in the Bessarabian region. Notably, this region was distinguished from numerous others by its acquisition of the right to print the necessary literature for church and educational activities.