On the Third Sunday of Great Lent – Veneration of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord – the first hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau.
Church tradition institutes the veneration of Holy Cross on the third Sunday of Great Lent, in order to strengthen the Christians in the middle of this ascetic ascension.
Our Lord Jesus Christ turned the cross from a tool of torture into a means of salvation and victory over death, supporting and encouraging the Christians to take up their own crosses and follow Him in the Heavenly Kingdom.
Thus, the cross means not only suffering, but also victory and joy. Addressing a message of pastoral guidance to the liturgical community, Metropolitan Vladimir mentioned:
“We can see in today’s short Gospel Reading that the core of our life should be Christ the merciful, Christ crucified and resurrected. The presence of His merciful love in our lives raises us from sin and disease, healing us… We learn that the Holy Cross is the source of renovation. The Holy Cross is a bitter means of salvation, offered to all those who seek liberation from death and follows Christ’s words: Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”.
During the Liturgy, deacon Gheorghe Dogotari, 4th year Theology student, received priesthood ordination and was appointed by Metropolitan Vladimir to the Nativity of the Mother of God Parish in Recea, Riscani.
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