On the second day of the great feast of the Nativity of the Lord, which celebrates the Synaxis of the Mother of God, on January 8, 2024, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova, was among the parishioners of the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral in the capital.
On this occasion, the Metropolitan celebrated the Holy and Divine Liturgy with the bishops-vicars of the Orthodox Church of Moldova: His Grace Ioan, Bishop of Soroca, His Grace Siluan, Bishop of Orhei, His Grace Filaret, Bishop of Căpriana, Protopriest Vadim Cheibaș, the Metropolitan Secretary and the Cathedral Dean, Archimandrite Nicolae (Roșca), spiritual administrator of Ciuflea Monastery and a choir of priests and deacons.
The word synaxis means “gathering of people”: First, this word is a call to the faithful to gather today, in honor of Our Lady, here on earth; another meaning of this word reminds us that Our Lady who is glorified, without likeness, in the midst of all the Blessed Saints in heaven, and that, as such, our gathering today, on earth, is, in fact, a gathering with the covenants of all the Saints and angels in heaven. The heavenly assembly unites today with our earthly assembly in honour of the Mother of God.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Primate officiated two ordinations: deacon Alexandru Rău was ordained to the rank of priest and subdeacon Vladimir Mămăligă was ordained deacon.
Metropolitan Vladimir was congratulated by Bishop Ioan, who spoke on behalf of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, and Father Vadim Cheibaș, who spoke on behalf of the servants of the Metropolitan Cathedral, thanking the Archpastor for his paternal care and love for the clergy and the people.
The Synaxis of Our Lady is one of the five great feasts of the Church year dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the third day after the Nativity of the Lord, the Orthodox Church will honour the Holy Apostle, First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations