“When a church is consecrated, a door to heaven is opened” – His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, consecrated on Thursday, February 8, 2024, the chapel dedicated to “St. Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu-Bodoni” in the Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul.
The divine service began with the consecration of the altar, an area that indispensable in the church liturgical building.
Together with Metropolitan Vladimir, prayers were offered by Protopriest Nicolae Andrieș, chairman of the Synodal Sector for Pastoral Activity in Penitentiary Institutions, Protopriest Aviv Țîmbaliuc, chaplain of the penitentiary, a choir of chaplain ministers, the management and staff of the penitentiary.
During the Small Entrance, for the diligent work for the good of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, in the penitentiary no. 9 – Pruncul, the chairman of the sector, prot. Nicolae Andries, was decorated with the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the Great Doors open until the Lord’s Prayer, and chaplain, prot. Aviv Timbaliuc, with the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the Great Doors open until the Cherubim hymn.
Moral-spiritual education programmes carried out in prisons play a special role in the re-education and re-socialisation of persons deprived of their liberty and support the other behavioural training programmes carried out in penitentiary institutions, with a view to strengthening and applying moral and religious virtues during the time spent in detention, virtues which are the basis of the values of self-respect and inter-human relations.
Just as nothing can be done without people, we consider it important to mention that this sacred moment would not have been possible without the financial contribution from the partners, which was harmoniously combined with the efforts of the employees of Penitentiary No. 9 – Puncul, thus building this sacred space of great spiritual value. The holy things donated by the Metropolis of Chisinau and all Moldova were a precious moment in the embellishment of the church.
Thus, the icons, iconostasis and church furnishings donated by the Metropolis will serve as material and spiritual support while uttering holy prayers. We express our gratitude to all those involved and those who have contributed to making this dream come to life. This collaboration is an example of our potential to bring positive change and hope into the lives of those seeking spiritual improvement.
The event was significantly shaped by the presence of the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Nadejda Burciu, the Director of the National Administration of Penitentiaries, Mr. Anatolie Falca and the Deputy Director, Mrs. Liuba Jignea-Suveica.
At the end of the divine service, the leadership of the NPA thanked the Metropolitan and the entire choir of priests for today’s historic event, and expressed the hope that this newly opened place of worship will stimulate positive change in the lives of those who are seeking their way into society and will directly serve as a bridge to spiritual connection with God in the lives of all those present.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations