The divine service was officiated by the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova.
Praying together with His Eminence were:
His Eminence Sava, archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubasari
His Eminence Anatolie, archbishop of Cahul and Comrat,
His Eminence Petru, archbishop of Balti and Falesti,
His Eminence Nicodim, archbishop of Edinet and Briceni,
His Grace Ioan of Soroca, metropolitan vicar,
His Grace Siluan of Orhei, metropolitan vicar.
The assembly of priests included: protopriest Vadim Cheibas, secretary of the metropolis,
Archimandrite Filaret (Cuzmin), superior monk of Căpriana Monastery and dean of Straseni district,
Archim. Ioan (Danilescu), secretary of Archbishop Sava,
Archim. Paisie (Cecan), superior monk of Chitcani Monastery,
Archim. Nicolae (Rosca), confessor of Ciuflea Monastery and chairman of the Synodal Sector of Pastoral Activity in the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence and Law Enforcement agencies,
Archim. Ioan (Hangan), the confessor of Pripiceni-Curchi Monastery,
Archim. Kiril (Braguta), superior monk of Hîrjauca Monastery,
Archim. Spiridon (Marin), superior monk of Hîrbovăt Monastery,
Archim. Vladimir (Trelea), superior monk of Condrita Monastery,
Protopriest Nicolae Cravet, Dean of Soroca district,
Protopriest Iulian Rată, Dean of Orhei district,
Grigorie Dodon, dean of Calarasi district, and a group of priests and deacons from the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Multitudes of faithful Christians from many parts of the country came to the feast to pray to St. Hierarch Gabriel and to honour the relics of the great Hierarch.
Liturgical responses were offered by the men’s choir of the Căpriana Monastery, conducted by Mr Vadim Ceban.
At the Small Entrance, the Metropolitan awarded several priests from the Straseni Deanery with ecclesiastical distinctions.
Saint Hierarch Gavriil was a light that burned for God and for others!
In his sermon at the end of the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir evoked the personality of Saint Hierarch Gavriil, the first Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin.
“Saint Hierarch Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni was called by God to a special spiritual life. He was a light that burned for God and for others. His holy calling remains a worthy model for hierarchs, priests, monks and all the faithful. The call is addressed to all of us to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ”, the Arch-pastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova stressed in his spiritual address.
In turn, Father Archimandrite Filaret, the superior monk of the monastery, thanked the hierarchs, priests, guests and the faithful present for the prayer tribute offered today to Saint Hierarch Gavriil, who was at the foundation of the establishment of the Metropolis of Chisinau and Hotin.
The celebration ended with a fraternal meal, offered to the pilgrims with great love by the monastery’s inhabitants.
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