On the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, 5 October, the day when the Orthodox Church of Moldova celebrates its independence, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova officiated the Divine Liturgy at the voyevodal Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Căpriana.
Praying together with the metropolitan were His Eminence IoanArchbishop of Soroca and Drochia, His Grace Filaret Bishop of Căpriana and Vicar of the Metropolis, the clergy of the monastery, the monastic community, and numerous pilgrims who came to take part in this spiritual event.
During the Small Entrance, the Archpastor handed to Protodeacon Nicolae Ciumacenco the distinction “The Icon of the Mother of God of Hîrbovăț”, conferred by His Eminence Archbishop Petru of Ungheni and Nisporeni.
The liturgical responses were offered by the Arch-pastoral Choir of Căpriana Monastery, directed by Mr Vadim Ceban, and by the Choir “Saint Theodora of Sihla” from Iași, conducted by Subdeacon Dionisie Dogotari.
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum of thanksgiving and health was celebrated, during which His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir prayed in front of the shrine of Saint Hierarch Gavriil .
In his homily, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova addressed a message of congratulation and blessing to the Abbot of the Monastery, His Grace Bishop Filaret, to the monastic community, and to all the faithful present, commending the zeal and dedication of each for maintaining the good order of the Holy Monastery and for their spiritual growth.
In turn, His Grace Bishop Filaret expressed gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir for the liturgical communion and for the constant pastoral care he shows to the Holy Church in our country, offering him, as a sign of appreciation, a hierarchal censer.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations