On the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the archpastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ascension of the Lord Church of their native community Colencauti, Cernauti region, Ukraine.
Concelebrating to Metropolitan Vladimir was His Eminence Meleti, Metropolitan of Cernauti and Bucovina, and His Grace Petru, Bishop of Ungheni and Nisporeni.
Numerous church-goers came to share the joy of their community’s Patron Feast, praying along with the synaxis of priests who assisted the archpastors during the Divine Service.
Metropolitan Vladimir was cordially greeted in his native community, being loved and welcomed by the local Christians. Children came dressed in traditional folk costumes, welcoming the archpastors and priests with flowers and traditional bread and salt.
The Thursday of the Ascension of the Lord was very special this year in Colencauti community, celebrating 125th anniversary since the church consecration. This was also a special holiday for the parish rector, archpriest Ioan Bivolaru, who celebrated his 65th anniversary.
During the Divine Liturgy, prayers were also uttered for the blessed repose of the servants of God, Vasile and Vera, parents of Metropolitan Vladimir. At the end, the metropolitan congratulated father Ioan on their anniversary, and addressed greetings to concelebrating archpastors and priests, and to the entire praying community.