Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2: 8-11)
Today, when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral in Chisinau.
During the service, the metropolitan secretary and Cathedral Dean, archpriest Vadim Cheibas, read out the arch-pastoral message of Metropolitan Vladimir, addressed to all members of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
At the Small Entrance, the metropolitan awarded church distinctions to a number of clerics.
Subdeacon Victor Babachin was ordained deacon and appointed to the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral. The cleric also received the first church distinction – the right of wearing double orrarion.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of congratulation and pastoral greetings to the liturgical community, calling the faithful to fully experience the grandeur and beauty of the day, in the light of the teaching of the Church and in accordance with our ancestral traditions.
Finally, the children received blessings and gifts with sweets from His Eminence, while adults were offered church calendars.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations.