The memory of Holy Hierarch Gavriil, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin, was celebrated on Sunday, 3 September 2017, at the ancestral voyevodal monastery of Capriana.
The Divine Service was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Concelebrating to the Metropolitan were H.G. Anatolie, Bishop of Cahul and Comrat, H.G. Petru, Bishop of Ungheni and Nisporeni, H.G. Marchel, Bishop of Balti and Falesti, H.G. Nicodim, Bishop of Edinet and Briceni, H.G. Ioan, Bishop of Soroca and Vicar of the Metropolis of Chisinau and All Moldova, H.G. Siluan, Bishop of Orhei, Vicar of the Metropolis of Chisinau and All Moldova, archpriest Vadim Cheibas, secretary of the Synod of the OCM, numerous priests and deacons, who prayed in the presence of hundreds of lay Christians gathered from all corners of the country to utter prayers for heavenly intercession to Holy Hierarch Gavriil, the first Metropolitan of Chisnau and Hotin.
Praying with the country’s Christians was the President of Moldova, Mr. Igor Dodon with the family.
During the Small Entrance, Metropolitan Vladimir awarded for the first time in the history of the Orthodox Church of Moldova the new church 2nd degree order of St. Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu-Bodoni to the Monk-Superior of the Capriana Monastery, Archimandrite Filaret (Cuzmin).
After the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and the people participated in a Thanks-Giving Te-Deum service, thanking the Lord for the utmost mercy cast on our Church and the right-faithful people.
“Holy Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu-Bodoni, the First Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin, was called by God to outstanding spiritual life. His holy vocation remains a worthy model to be followed by archpastors, priests, monks, and all faithful people. This vocation is addressed to all of us – the call to follow our Lord Jesus Christ”, underlined Metropolitan Vladimir in the sermon after the Liturgy.
In his turn, father Archimandrite Filaret, the Monk-Suerior of Capriana Monastery, thanked the hierarchs, priests, guests, and all faithful present at the prayers before the shrine with the relics of St. Gavriil who laid foundation of the Diocese of Chisinau and Hotin.
At the end of the celebrations, Metropolitan Vladimir awarded church distinctions to the most prominent ctitors of the Capriana Monastery.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations