A senior member of the Moldovan Orthodox Church has been prevented from undertaking a ritual visit to Jerusalem

Russian lawmakers have denounced Moldovan authorities over their attempt to prevent a bishop from undertaking a ritual visit to Jerusalem.

On Thursday, Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Orthodox Church said the country's law enforcement officials prevented him from boarding a plane to Israel, from where he was to return with the Holy Fire, under the pretext of a search.

While nothing suspicious was found, authorities withheld the passports of Marchel and accompanying travellers until after their plane had taken off.

The incident comes amid religious tensions in the former Soviet republic, stemming from a rivalry between the Moldovan Orthodox Church, which is affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which is under the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Pro-EU Moldovan authorities have reportedly been supportive of the Romanian-linked church applying pressure on the canonical Moldovan Orthodox Church.

Speaking to RT on Friday, Russian State Duma Deputy Vitaly Milonov, known for his ardent defense of traditional values, suggested that the "European devils are squirming at the approaching radiant feast of Christ's Resurrection" and thus seek to attack the Orthodox clergy.

"Eurobureaucrats and their lackeys" have no reverence for Christianity, he claimed. "Those who desecrate Christian holy things and values are cursed...These apostates have only one Euro-alternative: a wooden stake at a crossroads."

Sergey Mironov, the leader of the 'Just Russia - For Truth' party, told RT that the incident was an example not only of "Russophobia," but rather of an "outright war against God", Russians, and the Orthodox community as a whole.

"Sadly, these events are increasingly resembling those in neighboring Ukraine, where persecution of the Orthodox Church has been going on for many years. People are being intimidated and forced to betray the faith of their ancestors," he said, warning that those fighting against the Lord would ultimately meet their demise.

The incident also drew condemnation from within the country. The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova cited a "conscious act of spiritual terror" by the government of pro-EU President Maia Sandu. The authorities "humiliated" a senior cleric during Holy Week, in a move that constituted "a declaration of war against the Orthodox majority of Moldova."

The Socialists also demanded that the authorities issue a public explanation and an apology while reaffirming their commitment to defending Moldova's "traditional and spiritual values."