His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir officiated on Saturday, November 23, at the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian parish in Botanica district of the capital.
In the morning, the Metropolitan presided over the consecration of the Holy Altar, an essential element of the church’s liturgical ensemble, symbolizing the Holy Sepulcher of the Savior.
Joining the Archpastor in prayer during the divine service were Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary; Archpriest Pavel Borșevschi, Dean of Chișinău, Sector II; Archpriest Zosima Toia, Dean of Chișinău, Sector III; Father Ioan Sîrbu, the parish rector; and a choir of invited priests and deacons.
The Divine Liturgy was embellished by the ordination of Subdeacon Vitalie Bujnița to the rank of deacon for service in the host parish.
Liturgical responses were provided by the arch-pastoral choir of Căpriana Monastery, conducted by Mr. Vadim Ceban.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a thanksgiving and health Te Deum was officiated. Metropolitan Vladimir then addressed the faithful, congratulating them on this significant event in the parish’s history and wishing health and spiritual salvation to all who cross the church’s threshold.
At the end of the service, the faithful received icons and spiritual booklets from the Metropolitan as tokens of spiritual encouragement and remembrance of this historic event in the parish.
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations