On the feast day of the Nativity of the Mother of God, Thursday, September 21, 2023, surrounded by an assembly of priests and a multitude of faithful lay Christians, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Ciocana district of the capital, which celebrated its feast day and the 25th anniversary of the community.
Together with His Eminence prayed: Protopriest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary, Protopriest Nicolae Cojocaru, parish rector of the church, and a big group of clergymen from the municipality.
The celebration was attended by the founders of the parish, people of culture, as well as many parishioners who came to offer prayers of thanksgiving together with the Archpriest and the priestly assembly.
During the divine service, at the Small Entrance, the parish rector, Fr. Nicolae was awarded the right to wear an Epigonation and a cross embellished with jewels. Other clergy received metropolitan awards as a sign of archpastoral gratitude for his diligent work for the good and the greatness of the Orthodox Church of Moldova:
Protopriest Petru Cebotari – the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Our Father prayer;
Priest Ioan Herțman – right to wear the Camilafca;
Priest Iulian Lai – the right to wear the golden cross and camilafca;
Deacon Oleg Chifeac – promoted to the rank of protodeacon;
Deacon Andrei Corjan – the right to wear the camilafca;
Today’s Divine Service was also embellished by an ordination: His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir ordained subdeacon Oleg Grinico, 2019 graduate of the Academy of Orthodox Theology, to the office of Deacon.
After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the Arch-pastor, the assembly of priests and deacons, and the parishioners surrounded the holy church with the readings from the four Holy Gospels, and a litany in memory of the founder of this church, Protopriest Gheorghe Cojocaru and the founders who had moved to the Lord was officiated. The service ended with a thanks-giving Te-Deum Laudamus prayer to the Good Lord, thanking for all the blessings on this community.
Protopriest Nicolae Cojocaru expressed his gratitude to His Eminence for his kindness and support, declaring that with the help of God, he and the faithful of the parish entrusted to him will continue to walk the right path, towards the flourishing of faith and the salvation of souls.
At the end of the reunion, Metropolitan Vladimir handed icons to all the faithful, in the memory of the day, wishing them spiritual growth and salvation.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations