On the Feast of Saint Great-Martyr Demetrius, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir visited St. Demetrius parish in Danceni village, Ialoveni raion, where the hierarch was welcomed with outstanding Christian love by Ialoveni church circumscription dean, Mitred Archpriest Anatolie Stefanov, the rector of St. Demetrius parish, Mitred Archpriest Valeriu Gâţu, representatives of the local public authorities, and numerous parishioners.
The Hierarch officiated the Divine Liturgy, celebrating the commemoration of Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius in whose honour the parish church was built and sanctified 15 years ago.
During the Service, the parish rector was rewarded with the Second degree Order of Reverend Paisy Velichkovsky, in sign of archpastoral appreciation of assiduous work for the prosperity and glory of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
After the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful present at the service joined His Eminence Vladimir in a Thanks-giving Te-Deum Service, then followed the hierarch in a Gospel-reading procession around the holy shrine.
The archpastor then came up with a pastoral message, celebrating the parish rector and parishioners on the occasion of the Patron’s Feast, urging them to continue their God-pleasing acts with the same zeal and devotion.
Father Valeriu, the parish rector, thanked, in his turn, the hierarch for the words of consolidation and assured His Eminence that with the support of his faithful flock, they will continue to work for the prosperity of the parish, glory of the Lord and the ancestral faith, heading together towards salvation.