29th of September 2019, the 15th Sunday after Pentecost: Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova was cordially greeted in the parish of Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Rusestii Noi community, Ialoveni district.
The Arch-pastor celebrated the Divine Liturgy, together with His Grace Vicar Bishop Ioan of Soroca, assisted by archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Nicolae Cravet, Dean of Soroca church circumscription, archimandrite Nicolae (Rosca), administrator of the Monastery of Ciuflea in Chisinau, and archpriest Anatolie Stefanov, the parish rector, who celebrated 60th anniversary.
The synaxis of priests and deacons prayed amid numerous parishioners and guests arrived to share the spiritual gladness of the holiday.
During the Small Entrance of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir distinguished father Anatolie with the Order of Gratitude in sign of arch-pastoral appreciation of devoted ministry for the prosperity of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Thanks-Giving Te-Deum service was officiated after the Liturgy, and then Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of congratulation to Fr. Anatolie Stefanov.
The parish rector thanked the hierarch for pastoral guidance and good wishes, assuring the metropolitan of filial devotion and intention to further contribute to the prosperity of Orthodox faith among parishioners, guiding them on the way of salvation.
Before the dismissal of the liturgical community, Metropolitan Vladimir and Bishop Ioan distributed prayer books and icons to the church-goers, in the memory of the celebration.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations