Thou didst give a pledge of the general resurrection before Thy Passion, O Christ our God, by raising Lazarus from the dead. Therefore, we too, like the children, carry the symbols of victory and cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the Heights! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. (Troparion, Tone 1)
This Great Feast of the Christian world was celebrated with high spirit and enthusiasm by numerous church-goers who participated today in the Divine Service officiated by His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova.
Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Cathedral Dean and Metropolitan Secretary, assisted the arch-pastor at the Divine Liturgy, together with numerous priests and deacons of the holy place.
The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, also known as Palm Sunday, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Christian Church, and is celebrated on the Sunday before the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter).
A few days before His crucifixion, Lord Jesus Christ was greeted by the crowds who glorified and honored Him, upon His entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, as the Messiah and the King of Israel. The multitudes, as a sign of joy, threw before Him leaves of the palm or of the fig tree, the symbol of victory, while the children praised Him.
The right-faithful community, led by the arch-pastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, gave due honor to this Sunday which opens the way to the Passion, and then to the bright Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The liturgical responses were provided at the Holy Liturgy by the mixed choir of the metropolitan cathedral led by choir director Angela Angheni.
After the Divine Liturgy, the parishioners listened to a word of pastoral guidance and congratulations, accompanied by advice to be mindful of the Great Feast celebrated today, and to ask the Lord for physical and spiritual strength to be able to properly spend the last week before the Holy Resurrection.
Towards the end, His Eminence Vladimir sanctified the willow branches brought by multitudes of believers who came to the House of God to offer glory and thank all-good God for all His rich gifts. Due to the fact that the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem is a celebration of joy, the Church allows on this day fish and wine during the meal.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations