On Thursday, 29 May, the great feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chișinău and All Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Monastery in Japca.
The holy monastic settlement, which impresses with its distinctive architectural style, became a place of pilgrimage already on Wednesday evening, when His Eminence presided over the Vigil Service.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were His Eminence Archbishop Ioan of Soroca and Drochia, the local hierarch, Archpriest Nicolae Craveț, Secretary of the Diocese of Soroca and Drochia, missionary priests from the European diaspora, and other clergy and deacons.
The liturgical responses were provided by the choir of nuns from Japca Monastery.
During the Small Entrance, the abbess of the monastery, Mother Parascheva (Gușan), was awarded the Order of St Blessed Agafia, 2nd category, by the Metropolitan, and Archpriest Vasile Șestovschi, parish priest of the “Nativity of the Mother of God” Church in Padua, Italy, received the Order of St Hierarch Dionisie Erhan, 2nd category, in recognition of their dedicated service to the Orthodox Church and its faithful.
In his homily, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir reflected on the spiritual meaning of the Feast of the Ascension:
“The Saviour Christ ascended 40 days after the Resurrection, having prepared His disciples. He ascended into Heaven in their sight, and in the presence of the Mother of God, as they were already convinced that He is the Son of God, risen from the dead. The Ascension took place so that the Holy Spirit might descend. We are uplifted when the Holy Spirit descends upon us.”
After the service, the clergy offered a thanksgiving Te Deum for all the blessings received, and Metropolitan Vladimir addressed the faithful, recalling that Japca Monastery was the first monastic settlement in Moldova he visited many years ago with his mother. Returning now, he shared the same profound spiritual joy and sense of rediscovery.
His Eminence also reminded those present that Japca Monastery remained open even during the harsh years of atheistic persecution, standing as a bastion of the faith. He praised the current sisterhood, led by Abbess Parascheva, for honourably continuing this worthy tradition and caring for those who seek spiritual solace in times of hardship.
At the end, the pilgrims received blessings and spiritual counsel from Metropolitan Vladimir, encouraging them to live an authentic Christian life rich in spiritual fruits.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the Cross and Repentance Procession was initiated on Monday, 26 May, following the Divine Liturgy at Saharna Monastery, and continued to Japca Monastery.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations