Religious Tolerance

Pridnestrovie is a country with freedom of religion inscribed in the country's constitution and with a multi-ethnic population living peacefully as neighbors throughout the mixed nation. In this new Europe we have an open spirit of true religious tolerance. This photo shows the northern city of Rybnitsa where Western Christian and Eastern Christian churches co-exist in harmony, side by side.

Due to its historical and geographical origins as the frontline between Western and Eastern civilizations, Pridnestrovie is also religiously diverse. Here, a rich tapestry of faiths peacefully co-exist. Next to Orthodox temples you can easily find Catholic churches or Jewish synagogues. There is no religious or racial discrimation between groups in Pridnestrovie. The rate of interfaith marriages is the highest in South East Europe, as are the number of marriages between ethnic groups. This fact alone sets Pridnestrovie apart.

All religions exist in Pridnestrovie under equal footing and with equal rights. There is no state religion and the country maintains a strict separation of Church and State. As such, no religion can be the preferred religion over another. Although the Christian Orthodox church is the largest, it is not guaranteed any special treatment. On 14 April 2004 the Pridnestrovian parliament refused to approve a draft law which would limit the rights of non-Orthodox religious groups in the republic.
Source: http://www.radonezh.ru/new/?ID=1866

For more on the tolerant people of Pridnestrovie and how all faiths live in harmony, click here:
» The Multiethnic Republic