On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of the Lord in Chișinău.
Joining the Hierarch in prayer were Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary and Cathedral Eclesiarch, together with the concelebrating clergy.
The liturgical responses were offered by the mixed choir of the Metropolitan Cathedral, under the direction of Mrs Angela Angheni.
The Holy Church calls us to return wholly to our Saviour Jesus Christ, presenting as a wondrous example of repentance the Venerable Saint Mary of Egypt.
The spiritual journey through Great Lent is marked on this Sunday by the ascetical significance of the second half of the Lenten season – revealing the marvellous fruits of repentance, as a troparion of the feast proclaims: “In you, O Mother, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image; for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away; but to care for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore, O Venerable Mary, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.”
Saint Mary of Egypt is one of the most renowned saints of the Church, adorning the heavens of our faith through her life, which stands as a model of deep repentance following grave sins.
During the Divine Service, the Primate ordained Subdeacon Varsanufie Varsanufie—a second-year student at the Theological Academy in Chișinău—to the rank of deacon for service at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Next Sunday, the Orthodox Church will celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Great Lent – Palm Sunday – the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church.
Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations of the Synod