Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova was greeted in the parish of St. Paraskeva in Straseni, on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 28 October 2019, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the parish’s Patron Feast.
Concelebrating to the first hierarch of the Moldovan Church was Vicar Bishop Siluan of Orhei. The arch-pastors were assisted at the Divine Liturgy by the parish rector, archpriest Veceslav Cazacu, Dean of Straseni District, and numerous priests and deacons.
Present at the service among the church-goers were representatives of Local Public Authorities.
In sign of appreciation of pastoral and missionary efforts, Metropolitan Vladimir rewarded the parish rector, Fr. Veceslav Cazacu with the Order of Holy Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni.
During the service, deacon Simeon Turcanu was ordained priest for the parish of St. Paraskeva in Tohatin, Chisinau, and subdeacon Iuvenalie Coada received diaconal ordination with appointment to the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral.
Thanks-giving prayers service was officiated after the Divine Liturgy, and Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of congratulation to the parish and guests, mentioning that Venerable Paraskeva, whose holy relics rest in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iassi, Romania, is heavenly protector of Moldova and numerous parishes who also celebrate their Patron Feast on this day.
Father Veceslav thanked Metropolitan Vladimir and Bishop Siluan for arch-pastoral prayers and sharing the spiritual joy of the Feast.
Closing the celebration, Metropolitan Vladimir distributed spiritual gifts to parishioners – icons and spiritual booklets.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations