6 March 2021, on the Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday), the first hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Metropolitan Vladimir, officiated the Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau, uttering fervent prayers for the peace in the entire world and for stopping the armed conflict in Ukraine.
All those who want to proceed to the ascetic deed of fast and prayer, all those who want to gather abundant harvest from repentance, listen to the world of God, listen to the commandment of God – and leave, forgive your neighbour his trespasses against you! (St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov).
On Cheesefare Sunday, when the Orthodox Church commemorates the casting away of Adam and Eve from Eden, the Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the central cathedral of Chisinau.
Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary and Cathedral Dean, concelebrated to the hierarch, together with the clergy of the holy place.
In these days of hardship encountered by the Ukrainian people and by all of us, His Eminence Vladimir prayed for peace, multiplying of love, ending of hatred and termination of military conflict in Ukraine.
Prayers for peace and ending of hatred are uttered in all parishes and monasteries of the Metropolis of Chisinau and all Moldova.
Tomorrow we enter into the period of Great Lent. The Sunday Gospel teaches us about forgiveness, fasting, and mercy: tree virtues that can help us to renew the grace of Baptismal, increasing the effort of moral awareness and spiritual rebirth.
If through sin we fell out from communion with God, like Adam did once, we are called to increase spiritually during the coming forty days, till we meet mysteriously the Risen Lord. This thing is possible by renouncing to pleasures and passing things, and investing in the eternity.
During the Liturgy, hierodeacon Dionisie (Opaet) from Siret Monastery was ordained hieromonk.
In the message of spiritual guidance after the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir called the liturgical community to enter into Great Lent in full peace with others, in order to achieve the bright Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The arch-pastor advised the Christians to undertake true fasting, in abstention and fervent prayer, in order to gain true harvest of this ascetic deed.
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