On the First Sunday of Great Lent, commemorating the Triumph of Orthodoxy, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova, officiated Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral in Chisinau.
Assisting the hierarch was archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary and Cathedral Dean, and the clergy of the holy place.
Liturgical responses during the service were provided by the Cathedral Choir directed by Angela Angheni.
The Triumph of Orthodox celebrates the restauration of the veneration of holy icons in the result of the Seventh Oecumenical Council.
Today we commemorate piously the overcoming of heresies and imaginarily participate in the celebrations that took place in Constantinople in the 9th c. AD, when Orthodoxy triumphed over iconoclasm.
Martyrs and confessors of faith who suffered during a century of iconoclastic persecutions are commemorated today.
The metropolitan uttered special prayers for arch-pastors, priests, and lay Christians who lived during iconoclastic era and remained intrepid of persecutions even under the threat of death or torture, standing for the veneration of holy icons, “priceless treasure of Orthodoxy”.
After the Triple Litany (litany of fervent supplication), Metropolitan Vladimir prayed for the peace in the world and for the ending of the war conflict in Ukraine.
During the Diving Liturgy, deacon Ioan Boubatrin was ordained priest and appointed to the parish Reverend Stelian in Chisinau.
Numerous church-goers partook in the Holy Communion during the Liturgy, ending the first week of Great Lent.
The following week is dedicated to St. Gregory Palamas.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations