Religion in Transnistria

Noul Neamț Monastery

Official statistics of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, or Transnistria, show that 91 percent of the Transnistrian population adhere to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with 4 percent adhering to the Catholic Church.[1] Roman Catholics are mainly located in Northern Transnistria, a region with a notable Polish minority.[2]

Transnistria's government has supported the restoration and construction of new Orthodox churches. It affirms that the republic has freedom of religion and states that 114 religious beliefs and congregations are officially registered. However, as recently as 2009, registration hurdles were met with by some religious groups, notably the Jehovah's Witnesses and according to information from the organization itself, they have 4,300 members in the territory.[3][4]

  1. ^ "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Transnistria (unrecognised state): Overview". Refworld. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Ethnic map of Transnistria", CEU monitor, archived from the original (JPEG) on 26 February 2010
  3. ^ "Moldova", International Religious Freedom Report, US: Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 2005
  4. ^ Baran, Emily (2011). "Jehovah's Witnesses and Post-Soviet Religious Policy in Moldova and the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic". Journal of Church and State. 53 (3): 437. doi:10.1093/jcs/csq137. JSTOR 24708194.