In Moldova, the Christmas spirit is conflict and rivalry for parishioners

FILE PHOTO: People attend a service for Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in Chisinau, Moldova January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

CHISINAU (Reuters) - The head of Moldova's largest Orthodox Church, subordinated to its Russian parent church, has complained that his ranks were coming under attack in the run-up to Christmas -- marked on two separate days by rival churches in the former Soviet state.

More than 90% of residents of the country, which lies between Ukraine and Romania, are Orthodox Christians.