With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, on the evening of Thursday, April 9, 2026, His Grace Siluan, Bishop of Orhei and Vicar of the Metropolis of Moldova, celebrated the service of Matins with the reading of the Twelve Gospels of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through these twelve Gospel readings, we are invited to relive spiritually the saving Passion of the Lord, from the Mystical Supper to the placing of the Savior’s body in the newly hewn tomb. This journey of suffering and sacrifice is accompanied, after each Gospel, by the chant:
“Glory to Thy long-suffering, O Lord! Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!”
The long-suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ is thus glorified throughout the entire order of this service. Christ willingly accepts the Crucifixion, although He is without sin and without blame, so that we, mankind, may be delivered from the bondage of sin and death.
The Gospels read this evening reveal that the Savior did not cease to love even in the midst of suffering. His love is tested through pain and remains enduring and steadfast. Nothing can turn Him away from fulfilling the will of the Heavenly Father, and this sacrificial love is shown to the very end, upon the Cross.
The love of Christ, being stronger than death, passes through death and conquers death. The connection between the mystery of the Cross and the mystery of the Resurrection is contemplated in the hymns of these services, and the glory of this humble and long-suffering love is fully revealed in the light of the Resurrection and in the joy of Holy Pascha.
Source: https://manastireacurchi.md/
