Sunday, 4th December 2022, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova, visited the parish of St. Valerius in Chisinau, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and share with the parishioners the joy of the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.
The Feast coincided with the 70th anniversary of the parish rector, archpriest Valeriu Bazatin, who initiated the construction of this holy place.
Praying along with Metropolitan Vladimir were the parish rector, archpriest Valeriu Bazatin, archimandrite Nicolae (Rosca), confessor and administrator of the Monastery of Ciuflea, archpriest Nicolae Florinchi, rector of St. George church in Chisinau, and numerous other priests and deacons.
Among the liturgical community were ex-mayor of Chisinau Serafim Urechean and ex-prime-minister of Moldova Vasile Tarlev.
During the Small Entrance of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir conferred a number of church awards. Fr. Valeriu Bazatin was decorated with the II degree Order of Right-Faithful Prince Stephan the Great, in sign of high appreciation of pastoral activity for the prosperity of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. Other clerics of the holy place were awarded high church distinctions by the metropolitan.
After the Divine Liturgy, the First Hierarch was assisted by the clergy during thanks-giving Litany, uttering prayers and lauds to God for the mercy and protection during all years of parish activity.
Finally, Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of congratulation to the parish rector and members, wishing them all to follow the Church teaching and advice of the Holy Fathers, and to pray for the intercession of the saints.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations