25 November 2018, On the 26th Sunday after the Pentecost, Metropolitan Vladimir visited the parish of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple in the community of Ulmu, Ialoveni district, to conduct the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and officiate the consecration of the renewed painting in the parish church.
Founded 140 years ago, prayers in this holy establishment has never ceased, even in the years of militant atheistic persecutions.
Thus, the arch-pastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova was greeted with utmost spiritual joy by the parish rector, father Petru Pisica and archpriest Anatolie Stefanov, Ialoveni church district dean, along with numerous church goers and guests, who arrived to utter thanks-giving prayers and commune in the Eucharistic feast.
The divine service started with the consecration of the interior painting of the church, then His Eminence Vladimir was assisted at the Divine Liturgy by numerous priests and deacons, including archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Anatolie Stefanov, District Dean, archpriest Petru Pisica, parish rector. Praying along with the parishioners were numerous guests, including Mrs. Monica Babuc, Minister of Education, Culture and Research, representatives of local public authorities, and ctitors of the church.
During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir ordained into deaconate a student of the Theological Academy of Chisinau, Mihail Marin.
Church distinctions were awarded to clergy and lay Christians, in recognition of their merits in ministry and support.
After the Liturgy, the praying community followed the arch-pastor and the clergy in a cross procession around the church, with hymn-singing and Gospel readings.
The metropolitan congratulated the parish rector and the community members on their anniversary and expressed joy for the liturgical unity in prayer. The archpastor thanked the parish rector, fr. Petru, sponsors and ctitors for their support and efforts in the good administration of the parish church.
Metropolitan Vladimir also appreciated the sacrifice and devotion of the staff of the Day-Care Centre for children from socially-vulnerable families, that has been working within the parish for about 10 years.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations.