Troparion of St. John the Baptist
The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O forerunner. Thou wast truly shown to be more honorable than the prophets, in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim. Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth, even unto those in hades didst thou proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh, Who taketh away the sin of the world, and granteth us great mercy.
The Church celebrates on the day after the Theophany the Feast of the Synasis of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, to commemorate St. John the Baptist’s mission in the preparation of the Lord’s coming.
Thus, on Saturday 20 January 2018, following a recent tradition, the Arch-pastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Metropolitan Vladimir, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Comrat, capital of Gagauzia region.
The parishioners, following the diocesan Bishop Anatolie of Cahul and Comrat and Mrs. Irina Vlah, the Governor of Gagauzia region, greeted early in the morning His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir and President Igor Dodon, who arrived to share the spiritual joy of the event with the church-goers and citizens of Comrat town.
During the Divine Liturgy, concelebrating to Metropolitan Vladimir and Bishop Anatolie was His Eminence Archbishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubasari, assisted by the Cathedral clergy and priests invited from other dioceses.
A Thanks-Giving (Te-Deum) Service was officiated after the Divine Liturgy at the icon of St. John the Baptist, after which His Eminence Vladimir congratulated the Christians from Comrat on their Patron’s Feast, encouraging them to continue exhibiting love and spiritual zeal in the Orthodox Christian mission.
Following a recent decision of Local Council of Comrat, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir was awarded the title of Honourable Citizen of Comrat town, in sign of high appreciation of the Metropolitan’s efforts in strengthening inter-ethnic relations in the missionary service. 5
His Grace Bishop Anatolie thanked the Metropolitan and the guests for sharing the joy of the Feast, encouraging the inhabitants of Comrat to maintain their living of our ancestral faith, and to preserve with holiness the spiritual and moral values of our predecessors.
All participants received icons from Metropolitan Vladimir, in the memory of the day and in sign of the arch-pastor’s blessing.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations