On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Metropolitan Cathedral “Nativity of the Lord” in Chișinău.
Concelebrating with the Archpastor were Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Secretary of the Metropolis and Ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, together with the assembly of serving clergy.
During the divine service, the Primate ordained Subdeacon Vasile Pleșca, a fourth-year student at the “Dumitru Stăniloae” Faculty of Theology in Iași, to the rank of deacon for the “Holy Trinity” Parish in Grătiești commune, municipality of Chișinău.
The Holy Church calls us to return entirely to Christ the Savior, setting before us as a wondrous example of repentance Saint Mary of Egypt.
The spiritual journey through Great Lent, on this Sunday, highlights the ascetical significance of the second part of the Lenten period, showing how wondrous are the fruits of repentance, as expressed in a troparion from the canon of the feast:
“Having descended into the depths of great improprieties, you did not remain there, but with a better resolve you clearly ascended to perfect virtue through your deeds, O venerable Mother Mary, astonishing even the nature of the angels.”
Saint Mary of Egypt is one of the most renowned saints of the Church, one who adorns the heavens of our faith through her life, which stands as a model of profound repentance following grievous sins.
Next Sunday, the Orthodox Church will mark the Sixth Sunday of Great Lent — Palm Sunday, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church.
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
