On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son that coincided this year with the Feast of Three Holy Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chysostom, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau, assisted by a numerous sinaxis of priests and deacons.
The Sunday Gospel Reading (Luke 15, 11-32) related the parable of the Prodigal Son, calling all Christians to repentance and returning to the Heavenly Father, the merciful Parent who is always waiting for His children, even if they get lost in earthly temptations and mistakes.
This Gospel Reading is the second of the three readings preceding Great Lent, inviting the Christians to reflect on the need of spiritual strengthening, cultivation of the virtue of love, forgiveness, repentance, and lack of judgment of other people.
During the Divine Service, graduates of the Theology Academy of Chisinau, deacon Vitalie Gangan was ordained priest, and subdeacon Petru Boian received deaconal ordainment.
On this occasion, HE Metropolitan Vladimir wished the young clergymen to be worthy of their high mission, exhibiting fidelity and strength in faith, cultivation of high spiritual virtues with themselves and with the faithful flock entrusted to them.
The young clerics thanked His Eminence Vladimir for being entrusted this high ministry, and assured the Hierarch of humility, faith, and firm intention to perform their office with self-negation and devotion to the Holy Orthodox Church.
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