When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan,/ the worship of the Trinity was made manifest;/ for, the voice of the Father bare witness unto Thee,/ calling Thee His beloved Son;/ and the Spirit in the form of a dove/ confirmed the certainty of His word./ O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the worlds,// glory be to Thee!
Troparion of the Feast of the Theophany
Saturday, 19th January 2019, on the Feast of the Theophany, or Baptism of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, the church-goers of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau, gathered in prayer to participate in the Divine Service celebrated by Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and Moldova.
This day commemorates the Evangelical event of the Baptismal of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel Reading of the Feast, as written by Holy Apostle Matthew, says:
Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
After the Divine Liturgy, the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, or the Great Agiasma, was officiated by metropolitan Vladimir, who was assisted in prayer by the Cathedral clergy.
Present at the Divine Service was President of the country, Mr. Igor Dodon. Traditionally, soldiers of the National Army participated in the Blessing of the Waters service, making several shots into the air, symbolizing the thunder-like voice of God-Father Who witnessed onto our Lord Jesus Christ during His Baptism.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations