On the eve of Holy Week, Orthodox hierarchs from the Metropolis of Bessarabia stepped into supermarkets—not for themselves, but to help bring Easter joy to vulnerable families through the national campaign “The Table of Joy” (Masa Bucuriei), organized by the Diaconia Social Mission.
Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia emphasized the spiritual motivation behind the gesture:
“Doing good is not just a moral duty, but a response to the love of Christ. As we approach the Resurrection, we urge everyone to offer hope and support to those in need.”
Bishop Antonie of Bălți echoed the message, calling the initiative “a test of our generosity.” He was accompanied by Adrian-Mihail Tican, Acting Manager of the Romanian Consulate General in Bălți, who personally contributed 2,000 Moldovan lei to the cause.
Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia also took part, highlighting the longstanding tradition of the campaign:
“Alongside the liturgical celebrations, we took part once again in this meaningful social action, which Diaconia has been organizing for years on Lazarus Saturday.”
According to Diaconia representatives, each participating bishop donated food, offered blessings to supporters, and encouraged the volunteers. Their involvement, they noted, brought spiritual strength and visibility to the campaign.
This year, “The Table of Joy” mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers across 103 stores in Moldova, collecting over 57,800 kg of food—a record for the campaign. These donations translate into more than 35,000 hot meals distributed last year through the mobile soup kitchen “Close to the Neighbour”.
