Sunday, 04 June 2023, on the Feast of Holy and Life-Giving Trinity (The Pentecost), His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova, officiated Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral in Chisinau.
The arch-pastor was assisted at the service by Cathedral Dean archpriest Vadim Cheibas, and an assembly of priests and deacons of the holy place.
On the Feast of the Pentecost the Orthodox Church celebrates the coming down of Holy Spirit. This Sunday, called the Great Sunday in Moldova, celebrates the presence of Holy Trinity showed to people in the persons of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in one and undivided God, whom we praise in the persons of the Holy Trinity.
The coming down of Holy Spirit is the oldest Christian holiday, celebrated along with the Resurrection of Christ since the Apostolic times. Holy Apostles Paul (1 Cor., 16) and Luke (Acts 20, 16) speak about this. This feast is also mentioned in the Constitutions of the Apostles among the holidays when the slaves are to be exempt from daily labour. St. Irineos, Tertulian, Origenes mention about this day. Canon 43 of Elvira Council (300 AD), Canon 20 of the First Oecumenical Council refer to this feast. St. Epiphanius and other great preachers of the 4th and 5th cc write numerous homilies about this holiday. Pilgrim Egeria in the second half of the 4th c describes this feast as celebrated in Jerusalem. By the end of the 4th and first half of the 5th cc the Pentecost was a double holiday celebrating the Ascension of the Lord and the Coming down of the Holy Spirit, as described by Eusebius of Caesarea in the 4th c. Since around 400 AD this the two feasts were separated, the Ascension celebrated on the 40th day after Holy Pascha, and the Pentecost – on the 50th, celebrating the Coming of the Holy Spirit.
During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir ordained subdeacon Alexei Goncear (y. 2015 graduate of the Academy of Orthodox Theology) into the dignity of deacon.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Vespers service was officiated, with the special “kneeling” prayers. The liturgical community thanked the Lord for all goodness and prayed for peace and protection of God.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations