Saint Hierarch Gavriil, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin and the Synaxis of Saints of Moldova were celebrated on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the holy monastery of Căpriana.
Today marks 8 years since the canonization of St. Hierarch Gabriel, but at the same time, this year the Holy Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Căpriana celebrates the jubilee of 595 years since the first documentary attestation.
The divine service was officiated by the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova.
Together with His Eminence prayers were uttered by:
Archbishop Petru of Ungheni and Nisporeni,
Archbishop Marchel of Balti and Falesti,
Archbishop Nicodim of Edinet and Briceni,
Bishop Ioan of Soroca and Drochia,
Bishop Siluan of Orhei, Metropolitan Vicar.
Bishop Filaret of Căpriana, abbot of the monastery and metropolitan vicar,
Bishop Nicolae of Ceadir-Lunga, vicar of the Diocese of Cahul and Comrat,
Bishop Patrocl of Dondușeni, vicar of the Diocese of Edinet and Briceni.
Protopriest Vadim Cheibais, secretary of the Metropolitan,
Archimandrite Paisie (Cecan), abbot of the monastery of Chitcani,
Archimandrite Ioan (Hangan), the abbot of Pripiceni-Curchi monastery,
Archimandrite Vladimir (Trelea), abbot of Condrița monastery,
Protopriest Anatolie Stefanov, Dean of Ialoveni district,
Protopriest Nicolae Craveț, secretary of the Diocese of Soroca and Drochia,
Protopriest Iulian Rață, Dean of Orhei district,
Protopriest Pavel Vuluță, Dean of Drochia district , and a group of priests and deacons from dioceses the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Multitudes of faithful from many parts of the country came to the feast to pray to St. Hierarch Gabriel and to honor the relics of the great Hierarch.
The liturgical responses were offered by the monastic choir of the monastery of Căpriana, conducted by Mr. Vadim Ceban and the choir of the Diocese of Balti and Fălești conducted by prot. Alexandru Paiul.
In his homily, delivered at the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop Petru evoked the personality of St. Hierarch Gavriil, the first Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin.
“St. Hierarch Gavriil Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni was called by God to a special spiritual life. He was a light that burned for God and for others. His holy call remains a worthy model for hierarchs, priests, monks and all the faithful. The call is addressed to all of us to follow the Savior Jesus Christ”, emphasized the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova in his arch-pastoral message.
In his turn, His Eminence Filaret, the abbot of the monastery, thanked the hierarchs, priests, guests, and the faithful present for the prayer offering today to St. Hierarch Gabriel, who was the founder of the Metropolis of Chisinau and Hotin.
The feast ended with a fraternal agape, offered to the pilgrims with great love by the monastic community.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations