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, Tone 1
Wednesday, 19 January 2022, on the Feast of the Theophany, or Baptism of the Lord, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova officiated the Divine Liturgy in the central Cathedral.
In atmosphere of spiritual celebration, Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary and Dean of the Cathedral, together with numerous clergymen, assisted the arch-pastor during the service. Praying with the liturgical community was father Veniamin Onu, missionary priest who pastorates northern parishes in Italy.
Liturgical responses were provided by the Cathedral’s choir directed by Angela Angheni.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is also called Epiphany, or Theophany, meaning the showing of God, for during the Baptism of Lord Jesus, the voice of God-Father was heard from the Heavens, while Holy Spirit descended on the head of Jesus like a dove. This is described in the Gospel Reading of the Feast (Mark 1: 9-11, Matins Gospel, and Mathew 3: 13-17, Liturgy Reading).
One of the reasons why Lord Jesus Christ was baptised is to provide us a model of repentance and to show that our entering into Church starts with Chrismation, or, Baptismal. We are baptised to die for sin and to resurrect for God and His Heavenly Kingdom, ready to be with Christ in His Passions, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.
A distinguished moment of this Feast is the blessing of Holy Water, or Great Agiasma, which a symbol of sanctifying power of Holy Spirit. Christians assisted with piety at the special service after the Liturgy, taking the Holy Water home, to use it for drinking after morning prayers and in severe illness, sprinkling with it their own homes and objects as a symbol of blessing from the Lord.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations.