The pilgrimage of Moldovan priests to Russia underlines the spiritual unity of the church, which does not depend on political borders. This was stated by Vladimir Legoyda, Chairman of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Church-Society and Media Relations. 
This was the response of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to the pilgrimage to Russia of up to 300 priests of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (PCM), a self-governing church within the ROC.
"The Orthodox Church is a single spiritual space that is not divided by political borders. And spiritual unity remains, I would say, forever," Vladimir Legoyda said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Legoyda acknowledged that the lack of communication persists, so such pilgrimages can "have a very big impact on strengthening unity."
The Orthodox Church of Moldova (PCM) is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), it unites about 70% of the inhabitants of the country and Transnistria. The Bessarabian Metropolia of the Romanian Orthodox Church also operates in the country, covering up to 20% of Orthodox believers.