His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Friday, April 17, when the Icon of the Mother of God “The Life-Giving Spring” is commemorated, at the “Holy Myrrh-bearing Women Martha and Mary” Monastery in Hagimus, Căușeni district.
The feast began with the rite of consecration of the Holy Altar (Prestol) and of the newly built church, dedicated to the “Protection of the Mother of God”, followed by the festal Divine Liturgy.
Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were: priest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary; Archimandrite Andrei (Cotruța), the monastery’s spiritual father; priest Vasile Damaschin, Dean of Căușeni; along with other priests and deacons.
Participating in the divine service were: Abbess Marta (Cușnir), the host monastery’s superior; Abbess Epistemia (Goncearenco), superior of Suruceni Monastery; the monastic community, and numerous faithful who came to pray.
During the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded Abbess Marta the Order of Saint Paraskeva (Second Class), and to the spiritual father, Archimandrite Andrei, the Cross for Special Merit, with the right to wear a second pectoral cross.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Archpastor ordained Subdeacon and iconographer Ioan Cușnir, a 2024 graduate of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iași, to the rank of deacon for the monastery.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a procession took place around the church with the reading of the four festal Gospels, as well as a Te Deum of thanksgiving to the Lord for all the blessings bestowed upon this monastery, its community, and its faithful.
At the report of the Abbess, benefactors and contributors received church awards in recognition of their work in supporting the construction of this church.
“We congratulate all the faithful and pilgrims of this monastery—diligent and devoted, enlightened by faith and prayer—who live under the protection of the Mother of God and of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women,” the Metropolitan noted.
As a sign of high appreciation and in remembrance of this beautiful and historic event, the Metropolitan received as a gift from the monastery an icon of the Protection of the Mother of God.
Synodal Department for Institutional Activity and Media Relations
