The first hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, Metropolitan Vladimir, made a canonical visit to the Diocese of Tiraspol and Dubasari on 11th-12th of September 2019, at the invitation of the diocesan hierarch Archbishop Sava.
Thus, in the evening of Wednesday, 11th of September, Metropolitan Vladimir officiated the Vigil Service in the church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tighina-Bendery.
Concelebrating to His Eminence Vladimir were Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopievsk Aristarh, archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubasari Sava, Bishop of Alatyr and Poretsk Theodosy, Bishop of Soroca and Vicar of the Metropolis of Moldova Ioan. Assisting to the synaxis of arch-pastors were archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Ioan Kalmyk, interim Dean of Bendery circumscription, archimandrite Ioan (Danilescu), Secretary of Tiraspol and Dubasari Diocese, archpriest Anatoly Kalmyk, parish rector, and other priests and deacons.
During the Polyeleos, Metropolitan Vladimir awarded the right of wearing Mitra to archpriest Anatoly Kalmyk.
After the service, the arch-pastor, accompanied by the hierarchs, priests and deacons, laid flowers at the monument of the Right-Faithful Prince Alexander Nevsky.
On Thursday, 12th of September, the Feast of St. Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Exaltation of the Holy Cross church in Tiraspol.
Concelebrating to Metropolitan Vladimir at the service were Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopievsk Aristarh, archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubasari Sava, Bishop of Alatyr and Poretsk Theodosy, Bishop of Soroca and Vicar of the Metropolis of Moldova Ioan. Assisting to the synaxis of arch-pastors were archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Ioan Kalmyk, interim Dean of Bendery circumscription, archimandrite Ioan (Danilescu), Secretary of Tiraspol and Dubasari Diocese, and other priests and deacons.
During the Small Entrance, His Eminence Vladimir awarded church distinctions to two clerics of the Diocese of Tiraspol and Dubasari, in sign of appreciation of assiduous pastoral and missionary activity:
- Hieromonk Pitirim (Kuzmenyh) was advanced into the dignity of archimandrite;
- Archpriest Adrian Mihalachi was awarded the right of wearing Mitra.
Te-Deum Laudamus service was officiated after the Liturgy, then Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of congratulation to Archbishop Sava, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of their arch-pastoral service.
His Eminence Sava thanked Metropolitan Vladimir for sincere congratulations, mentioning that all accomplishments made up to the present had been possible only with the grace and help of God.
Thanking to the liturgical community, Archbishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubasari expressed hope that everybody will continue to work in the spirit of unity, towards the consolidation of unperishable values of Orthodoxy.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations