Thou didst give a pledge of the general resurrection before Thy Passion, O Christ our God, by raising Lazarus from the dead. Therefore, we too, like the children, carry the symbols of victory and cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the Heights! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Entry of the Lord in Jerusalem, or Palm Sunday, gathered numerous church-goers in the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral in the capital of the country, participating in the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and all Moldova.
A week before His Crucifixion, Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, greeted by multitudes of Hebrew. Many of them arrived out of curiosity, intending to see Lazarus whom Jesus had brought back to life the day before. Many were replenished by authentic joy, hoping to see in the renown prophet the long-waited Messiah, the liberator from slavery. The apostles themselves did not yet understand the power and the glory of Jesus Christ, decided to follow Him and wondering at the occurring events. Out of that multitude of people rejoicing and glorifying God, and welcoming the Lord Jesus Christ, probably only Virgin Mary was sensing that Her Divine Son had started the ascension to Golgotha before crucifixion.
The Feast at the Cathedral began with prayers and confession before the Liturgy. Metropolitan Vladimir was assisted at the service by archpriest Vadim Cheibas, Metropolitan Secretary and Cathedral Dean, and the priests and deacons of the holy place.
Liturgical responses were provided by the Cathedral Choir directed by Angela Angheni.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir addressed a message of arch-pastoral guidance and greeting, then the special prayers were uttered for the blessing of willow branches traditionally brought to church in commemoration of palm leaves that were brought in Jerusalem before Christ on His entry.
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations