Noble Joseph took Thy immaculate Body down from the Tree, wrapped It in a clean shroud and spices, and having embalmed It laid It in a new sepulchre. But on the third day Thou didst rise, O Lord, granting to the world great mercy
(Troparion, Tone 2)
On the Third Sunday after Holy Pascha, dedicated to the commemoration of the Myrr-Bearing Women, Righteous Joseph and Nicodemus, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Metropolitan Cathedral in the centre of Chisinau.
Arch-priest Vadim Cheibas, Cathedral Dean and Metropolitan Secretary, together with the Cathedral clergy, assisted the metropolitan during the service.
The Myrrh-Bearing Women, like the wise maidens who waited for the bridegroom with their lit lamps, came with myrrh and spices on the morning of the Lord’s Resurrection, to anoint His Body. Since then, their act symbolizes service to God, and the vessels replenished with myrrh represent the virtues of a Christian who is waiting for the Heavenly Master. The Myrrh-bearing Women are commemorated on this Sunday for their virtues of humility and prayer, silence and kindness, discretion and holiness.
Addressing a message of pastoral guidance, Metropolitan Vladimir talked to the liturgical community about the Myrrh-Bearing Women who were announced by the Angel about the Lord’s Resurrection, about their devotion to Christ and their apostolic mission in the spreading the Good News – firstly to the Disciples of the Lord, and then to other people.
“Commemorating the Myrrh-bearing Women we also celebrate the Day of Christian women. The women who replenish the church and who offer their time and effort to the service of the Church resemble to those women who served Christ and His Disciples. We wish you, our dear sisters, long live in God, and may the Lord bless you for your sacrifice and holy warmness that you give to our communities.
May Good God help us to learn from the myrrh-bearing women to have courage in order to seek Christ in prayer, strong faith in His Resurrection, and the joy of meeting Him in church on every Sunday and holiday, to the glory of the Holy Trinity and to our salvation. Amen!” – concluded the metropolitan.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations