On the feast of the Nativity of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist and the Lord’s Forerunner, on Friday, July 7, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova officiated the Divine Liturgy in the parish of Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius in the village of Izbiște, Criuleni district. Before the liturgical service, the hierarch consecrated the Iconostasis of this Church.
In the morning of the day, the Hierarch was welcomed with great joy by the District Dean, archpriest Teodor Pelin, the parish priest, archpriest Victor Gangan together with his family and parishioners of this community.
Praying alongside the Archpriest were: the Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, the Metropolitan Secretary, archpriest Teodor Pelin, Dean of the parishes of Criuleni and Dubasari district, the parish rector, archpriest Victor Gangan, Archim. Paisie (Cecan), monk superior of Chițcani Monastery and an assembly of priests and deacons invited to the event.
During the Small Entrance of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir awarded church distinctions: the parish rector, Fr. Victor Gangan and archpriest Ioan Pîrlog, parish rector of Răculești, Criuleni, received the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Holy Doors open until the Lord’s Prayer, as a sign of gratitude for the work done over the years in the parishes entrusted to their care.
The liturgical responses were offered by the choir of priests “St. Hierarch Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni”, conducted by the choir director, archpriest Teodor Vrabie.
After the Divine Liturgy, traditional procession around the church followed with Gospel Readings. A thanks-giving Litany was officiated, with prayers and lauds to the Lord for all the blessings that take place in this parish. His Eminence Vladimir congratulated Father Victor on his 50th anniversary, greeting also the entire liturgical community on the occasion of this important event in the history of the parish.
In his turn, the parish priest thanked His Eminence for his kindness to share the joy of the celebration with the Christians of Izbiște.
The parishioners and benefactors of the Holy Church were decorated with medals and ecclesiastical diplomas, in sign of gratitude for helping the parish priest in all the works taking place in the community.
The Metropolitan offered as a gift to all those present, prayer books, icons and church calendars, in the memory of this historic event.
After the divine service, the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir visited the local museum, created with the contribution of all community members who wished to live vivid memory of the objects once used by our ancestors.
***
Saint John the Baptizer is the Forerunner of the Lord, the one who prepared the way and multitudes of people for the reception of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. St John’s main message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Those who renounced their sins were baptized in the Jordan. St John the Baptist’s mission was to proclaim the approach of the Messiah and to baptise those who repented in the Jordan River.
The Church dedicated six feasts to St John the Baptist: the conception – 23 September/6 October; the birth – 24 June/7 July; the Synaxis – 7/21 January; the cutting off of the head – 29 August/11 September; the first and second beheading – 24 February/8 March; the third beheading – 25 May/7 June.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations