Two priests from Dereneu village, Călăraşi district cannot come to an agreement. The two have organized today two services at the same time. One within the church and another one, in an annexed building.

It all begun after Father Marin Florin, who served the village for the past 27 years, gave the church to the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as the taxed imposed by the Metropolis of Moldova were too high.

"I decided to switch because of all the sins committed at the church from Chisinau. We were obligated to pay a monthly rate. If a priest wanted a parish, he has to pay 10 000 Euro" priest Marin Florin declared.

Last Sunday, some people broke into the church and changed the lock.

Father Marin Florin lost access to the building and therefore, on Sunday morning asked the people to follow him into an annexed building.

"We were threatened many time. That both me and the Mayor will be murdered. The threats begun when I switched to the Metropolis of Bessarabia. They broke into the church, we have also reported to the police" priest Marin Florin said.

The villagers have split opinions:

"I will only go in there with Father Florin. He is well mannered, always respected us."

"We do not wish to follow him. This church belong to Metropolis of Moldova. He is a Romanian priest apparently and not a Moldovan one."

"Christian values should be promoted, not national ideas. A church is not the fitting place for this."

During the service, the police patrolled around the church:

"- Do not provoke the people!

- We do not provoke anyone, we came here and wish to go in, to pray.

- Then you should have come in the morning.

- I have been here since morning."

Secretary of Bishopric from Ungheni and Nisporeni claim that villagers no longer wish for Marin Florin to be a priest: "Those who wish to create a religious community at the Metropolis of Bessarabia have all the right to build another church in the village. According to the documents, this church belongs to the Metropolis of Moldova."

On another hand, local Mayor claims that many of those who no longer wish for Florin to be a priest are not from that village.

"There were many people brought here, even from neighbor villages. We heard that they were paid to come here and even transported by the church" Mayor of Dereneu village, Elena Oaserele said.

The priest who adhered to the Metropolis of Bessarabia has the right to live in the house from the church's yard until the weather will warm up. He will also be allowed to come into the church, but only by using the small gate. The priest is also accused of having stolen icons and old books.

Local authorities required the police to investigate the case.