08 November 2022 (26 October in the Church Calendar), on the Feast of Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition of the Mother of God parish in the village of Drochia (Drochia region).
The service began with the consecration of the church, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Vladimir was assisted by archpriest Pavel Vuluta, Dean of Drochia district, archimandrite Vlasie (Usureanu), superior monk of Holy Prophet Elias Monastery in Nicoreni, archpriest Serghei Ciumac, parish dean, and numerous other clergy arrived from neighbouring parishes.
At the Little Entrance of the Liturgy, the hierarch rewarded archpriest Serghei Ciumac with the Second Category Order of the Holy and Rightfaithful Prince Stephan the Great. Priest Oleg Tulbure, dean of the Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Miciurin, Drochia, received the right of wearing pectoral cross embellished with jewels, while priest Victor Manziuc, cleric of the Miracle of Archangel Michael Church in Chisinau received the right of wearing Palitsa, in sign of archpastor’s high appreciation of pastoral activity for the glory of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Liturgical responses during the service were provided by the choir of St. Elias Monastery of Nicoreni, directed by archpriest Alexei Scutaru.
After the Divine Service, the liturgical community participated in a procession around the church, with Gospel-readings and Hymn chanting. A Te-Deum Laudamus service followed, with thanks-giving litanies and prayers for the blessing and protection of God. A number of church stewards received awards from the metropolitan. Prayer books and calendars were offered to each participant in the Liturgy, for the memory of the holiday.
Metropolitan Vladimir congratulated the parish rector and the parishioners on the feast-day of St. Demetrius, appreciating their efforts for the prosperity of the church and embellishment of the parish. The hierarch expressed hope that they will continue to bring their considerable input for the prosperity of the Holy Church.
Father Serghei Ciumac, in his turn, thanked the hierarch for the prayers during the Divine Liturgy, assuring the arch-pastor of further assiduous ministry for the glory of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations