On the 5th Sunday after Pentecost that coincided this year with the Feast of Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and Moldova celebrated the anniversary Liturgy marking 45 years of ecclesiastic service and 30 years of arch-pastoral mission.
Thus, today’s Divine Liturgy was marked by prayerful rejoice and gratitude to All-Merciful God Who grants heavenly protection to our right-faithful nation. Concelebrating to Metropolitan Vladimir at the Service were His Eminence Sava, Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubasari, Their Graces Anatolie, Bishop of Cahul and Comrat, Markel, Bishop of Balti and Falesti, Nicodim, Bishop of Edinet and Cahul, Metropolitan Vicar Bishops Ioan of Soroca and Siluan of Orhei, guest bishops Ambrosie of Bogorodsk and Vikenti of Zlatoust.
During the Divine Liturgy, young theologian Andrei Potoroaca was ordained Deacon and appointed to ecclesiastic mission in the parish of St. Pantelimon in Chisinau.
Archbishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubasari took floor on behalf of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, expressing high appreciation of Metropolitan Vladimir’s merits in the care and assiduous work for the rebirth of Orthodox spirituality, promotion and protection of spiritual values in contemporary secularized world.
His Eminence Sava underlined that Metropolitan Vladimir’s example is worth of being followed and will be followed with love and devotion of the entire Orthodox Church of Moldova, for the praise of Lord Jesus Christ and salvation of the right-faithful people.
The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova conferred to the arch-pastor of the Moldovan Church the Order of Gratitude, in sign of appreciation of numerous arch-pastoral activities.
His Excellence, Mr. Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova, was present among the praying community at the Divine Liturgy, and delivered a message of congratulation to Metropolitan Vladimir and to the whole nation.
“Citizens trust the Church most of all. I want to thank you for your over 30 yeas’ efforts to preserve our Orthodox faith. This made us stronger, helped us to overcome all challenges. The Church will always be the main pillar of our statality”.
We remind that Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill congratulated metropolitan Vladimir, thanking him for “substantial and precious for the harmonization of the relations between the Church and state in the Republic of Moldova”, expressing hope that “this collaboration will continue to bring good results”. In sign of appreciation, Patriarch Kirill presented Metropolitan Vladimir with a commemorative Panagia.
His Eminence Vladimir thanked everybody for beautiful words of congratulation and wishes, saying that he will continue, with the help of God, to fulfil the vocation of Metropolitan among the faithful flock entrusted to his pasturing.
The metropolitan had special words of gratitude to the President and politicians present at the Divine Service who had supported the Orthodox Church of Moldova for years and continue to contribute to the promotion and consolidation of our spiritual heritage in our society.
Liturgical responses were provided by the mixed choir of the Metropolitan Cathedral conducted by Mr. Angela Angheni, the Choir of Curchi Monastery, and the Children’s choir of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations