The seventh year consecutively, on the Feast of St. Nicholas, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir invites children to the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau. This year, around 500 children from various placement centres in Chisinau, Orhei, Straseni, and Ialoveni region were present.
The Feast started with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, assisted by priests and deacons, including invited priests: Archimandrite Iov (Cristea) from Curchi monastery, Archpriest Nicolae Tudoreanu (Doina monastery), and Archpriest Octavian Mosin (Moldova state university Chapel).
During the service, deacon Ioan Condur was ordained priest and appointed for service at Doina monastery. Fr. Ioan was also granted the first church decoration – the right of wearing Epigonation.
After the Liturgy the priests and church-goers congratulated the Metropolitan on the day of Heavenly Protector – St. Nicholas, whose name was given to him at the Baptismal, long before receiving monastic vows. The Hierarch also congratulated all church-goers, and talked to all those present about the life and miracles of St. Nicholas.
Closing the celebration, the Metropolitan and the assisting priests gave out gifts to the children present at the Cathedral. Then numerous children with disabilities and with special needs were provided hot meals and visited several museums in Chisinau.
It should be mentioned that strong relations of collaborations have been established between the Metropolis and the Municipal Child’s Rights Protection Department and other social institutions, allowing social activities and support to be provided to their beneficiaries.