A new sect has emerged in the Republic of Moldova. It is a pseudo-religious cult with extremist views, called “Russian Orthodox Church – Tsarist Empire”. The organization has a community of over 500 people who are required to give up all their possessions in favor of the cult.According to information obtained by reporters from Deschide.MD, the sect is led by Dumitru Mihaile, self-proclaimed “Metropolitan, Grand Prince of All Moldavia Theognost” and Zinaida Mihaile, who calls herself “Grand Princess of All Moldavia, Abbess Theophany”. The two live in the village of Stolniceni, Hincesti district, where the cult’s headquarters are located.Another headquarters of the group is located in the village of Dobrogea, Sîngera town (Chișinău municipality), and is managed by Alexandr Gariuc, self-proclaimed “Prince of Chișinău, Bishop Mark”.As for the sect’s activities, it defines itself as a branch of the extremist religious cult in the Russian Federation, called “Русская православная церковь – Царская Империя” (“Russian Orthodox Church – Tsarist Empire”).On his Facebook page, Dumitru Mihaile displays the Russian tsarist flag, which is also the official symbol of the cult. We note that, by a decision of the Chisinau Court in 2024, this flag was declared an extremist symbol.Members of the cult promote anti-Semitic and inciting messages of religious and racial hatred on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, especially on social networks. The cult also has apocalyptic visions and attracts people who are in vulnerable social situations or who are going through episodes of intense stress.
