On the feast day of Holy Hierarch John Chrysostom, the St. Nicholas church in Cricova, Chisinau, welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, who celebrated Divine Liturgy along with the metropolitan secretary, Mitr. Archpriest Vadim Cheibash, dean of the 3rd church district of Chisinau municipality, Mitr. Archpriest Zosima Toia, the spiritual administrator of Ciuflea monastery, Archimandrite Nicolae (Rosca), and numerous other concelebrating priests.
The Archpastor was greeted in the morning by the parish rector, Priest Nicolae Andries, by representatives of the local public authority, and numerous parishioners who came to attend the Divine Service and receive the archpastoral blessing.
During the Small Entrance, the church rector, priest Nicolae Andries, who also celebrated the 6th anniversary of his priesthood, was rewarded with the 3rd degree Church Merit order, in sign of high appreciation of efforts for the improvement of parish life and fulfillment of significant activities within the parish.
During the service, deacon Ioan Cenusa was ordained priest and appointed to the parish of Berezlogi, Orhei, while subdeacon Gheorghe Bors was ordained deacon and appointed to the Holy Trinity parish in Gratiesti, Chisinau.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the atmosphere of utmost solemnity and piety, while the parishioners experienced moments of outstanding spiritual ascension that crowned their brotherly efforts of preparing the visit of the Archpastor and embellishing the church for this elevating prayer and spiritual joy.
This was noted by His Eminence Vladimir, who highly appreciated in their archpastoral message the efforts of Cricova church-goers, congratulating them on this day and thanking them for their assiduous work that brought to such a notable result, truly expressing their faith and efforts.
Further on H.E. Vladimir, assisted by the concelebrating priests, consecrated a set of 5 bells recently brought from the Russian Federation and donated by a group of ctitors to the church of Cricova.
Later, a play ground recently built and installed in the church courtyard was solemnly inaugurated. His Eminence expressed hope that Cricova’s example with play ground will be followed by other parishes, while the church-goers of St. Nicholas Church, along with their spiritual father, will continue their efforts, striving to achieve other social goals, pursuing salvation of their souls and contributing the endurance of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Father rector Nicolae heartily thanked His Eminence Vladimir for these inspiring words of congratulation and appreciation, mentioning that all achievements in the parish were possible exclusively due to the decisiveness and assiduity of the church-goers and ctitors, who made considerable financial contributions making possible the implementation of the proposed plans. It should be mentioned that all they were highly appreciated by the Archpastor with metropolitan distinctions and diplomas.
In the end Metropolitan Vladimir, accompanied by the clergy and the local public administration representatives, visited the Alley of Princes inaugurated this May in Cricova during a previous visit of the Archpastor.
The Metropolitan Press Service