His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, officiated the Divine Liturgy on the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, which was also the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the “Nativity of the Lord” in Chișinău.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were His Eminence Vikenty, Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, His Grace Ireney, Bishop of Orsk and Gai, Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, the Metropolitan Secretary and Ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, along with the clergy and deacons of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
During the divine service, the Primate and the clergy prayed together with the devout congregation, asking the Lord Christ, through His saints, for protection from adverse conditions, spiritual virtues, and a hopeful path toward eternal life.
The liturgical responses were offered by the mixed choir of the Metropolitan Cathedral, conducted by Mrs. Angela Angheni.
The Holy and Divine Liturgy was further adorned by the ordination of Deacon Valeriu Gnaciuc to the priesthood, assigned to the parish of “St. Mary Magdalene” in the village of Tătărăști, Strășeni district.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir, Fr. Vadim Cheibas delivered a message of pastoral teaching on the Gospel reading, explaining the Parable of the Rich Fool to the faithful.
“Any diligent person would act similarly, not letting the fruits of their year-long labor go to waste. Up to this point, we could find nothing to reproach him for. He could even be considered a positive character. But beyond this, something changes: ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’ Here began his error: 1. He no longer wanted to work; he was preparing to live in idleness, and 2. even more gravely, as I mentioned earlier, he thought only of himself, misusing the goods he had received through God’s will and care.
This is why God disapproved of his philosophy. God did not like his outlook on life and said to him simply yet decisively: ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ This is how it will be for those who lay up treasures for themselves and are not rich toward God.”
At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Vladimir expressed gratitude to the Hierarchs for concelebrating and for their love for the Holy Church and our country. He assured them that they are always welcome and that the faithful people of Moldova hold them in high regard and await them with open arms.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Media Relations