Wednesday, 22 June 2023, on the commemoration day of Blessed Agafia of Cuselauca, the first hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Metropolitan Vladimir, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery in Cuselauca, Soldanesti district.
The celebrations started with the Great Vespers Service on the eve of the feast, and continued this morning at the shrine with the holy relics of Blessed Agafia in front of the main church of the monastery, where the Matins and Divine Liturgy was officiated.
Praying together with His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir were His Eminence Nicodim, Archbishop of Edinet and Briceni, and metropolitan vicar bishops: His Grace Ioan of Soroca and His Grace Siluan of Orhei. The arch-pastors were assisted by archpriest Vadim Cheibas, metropolitan secretary, and an assembly of over 100 priests and deacons from the entire Moldovan Church.
Liturgical responses during the service were offered by the arch-pastoral choir of Curchi monastery conducted by Dumitru Buga.
During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir ordained deacon Roman Rarancean into priesthood.
After the Divine Service, thanks-giving litany was officiated at the relics of Blessed Agafia, then Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of greeting and arch-pastoral teaching to the liturgical community, speaking about the life of the saint.
Closing the celebration, His Eminence Vladimir handed arch-pastoral distinctions and diplomas to a group of church sponsors and tutors.
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Saint Agafia was born in 1819 in the family of Ioan and Eudochia Maranciuc. Paralyzed as a child, her parents brought her for healing to the Cuselauca monastery, when she was 12. She was not cured, but through a heavenly vision from the Mother of God she learned that she would be given the gift of healing. Loving this monastery, she remained here until her death in 1873.
In view of the pious life of Saint and Blessed Agafia, and her devotion to the service of Christ and the Church, according to the report of His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova and the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at its meeting on July 15, 2016, the feast day of the Holy Right-Faithful Prince Stephen the Great, Minutes No. 68, decided upon the glorification of Blessed Agafia among the saints, with local veneration in our Church and country.
The commemoration date of Blessed Agafia (Maranciuc) was established on 9/22 June, the day of her death. The Blessed is also remembered on 24 September, the day she was canonised.
Saint Blessed Agafia, pray to God for us!
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations