Thursday, 19th November, H.E. Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the parish of Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Zaim village, Causeni district, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the church foundation in this community.
His Eminence was greated in the morning at the gate of the church’s courtyard by the Dean of Causeni district, Mitred Archpriest Victor Velciug and a group of children dressed in traditional Moldovan vestments, holding bunches of Autumn flowers.
The Divine Liturgy was then celebrated, with the participation of numerous church-goers, headed by the mayor of Zaim community, Mr. Ion Veste.
During the service, deacon Victor Manziuc was ordained priest for the church of Zaim community.
His Eminence Vladimir rewarded the church rector, Mitred Archpriest Gheorghe Glotea, with the right of celebrating the Liturgy with the Holy Doors open till the prayer “Our Father…”
Other church distinctions were also granted: Archpriest Pavel Dragan was rewarded with the right of wearing Jewelled Cross, mayor Ion Veste was rewarded with the IInd degree order of St. Paisy Velichkovsky, in sign of recognition of merits and support in the church restauration. Numerous ctitors of the church were awarded Archpastoral Diplomas.
At the end of the Divine Service the clergy and the church-goers engaged in a cross procession around the church, and then a Thanks-giving Te-Deum service was celebrated. The Metropolitan then celebrated a commemoration Litany, in the memory of the ever-commemorated priest Mihail Mateevici, father of the poet priest Alexei Mateevici.
After the Archpastoral blessing and distribution of prayer books to the children present in the church, father rector Gheorghe thanked all those present for their contribution to the organization of the holiday and wished long live to all believers.
Note: The church of Zaim was built in 1815, in stone, with the financial support of Alexandru Braguta and 470 families of Zaim. It was closed during the communist regime in 1961-1989.