On Tuesday, July 7, the feast of the Nativity of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Nicholas the Hierarch in Costești village, Ialoveni District. Concelebrating with His Eminence were priest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary; priest Anatolie Stefanov, Dean of Ialoveni; priest Vasile Ciobanu, parish priest of the host church; Archimandrite Andrei (Cotruța), spiritual father of Hagimus Monastery; together with a host of priests and deacons.
During the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Vladimir bestowed several metropolitan and ecclesiastical distinctions. Priest Vasile Ciobanu was awarded the Order of Saint Right-Believing Voivode Stephen the Great and Holy in recognition of the 30th anniversary of his priestly ministry. The following clergy also received distinctions: priest Teodor Postică – the Second Degree Order of Saint Petro Mohyla; priest Oleg Lungu and priest Vasile Bălățel – the Second Degree Order of Ecclesiastical Merit; priest Alexandru Lai – the right to wear the Gold Cross; priest Nicolae Todose – the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Royal Doors open until the Cherubic Hymn; and priest Nicolae Prescură – the Second Degree Order of Saint Hierarch Dionisie Erhan.
The liturgical responses were offered by the Episcopal Choir of Curchi Monastery, conducted by Mr. Dumitru Buga, together with the parish choir.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum service for health was celebrated, after which Metropolitan Vladimir congratulated Father Vasile on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his priesthood. His Eminence also addressed the faithful of Costești with words of blessing, wishing them peace, good health, many blessed years, wisdom, love, and steadfastness in the Orthodox faith.
The parish priest, in turn, expressed his gratitude to His Eminence for the joy of the liturgical celebration in the parish and for the fatherly care he continually extends to the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. As a sign of appreciation, he presented Metropolitan Vladimir with an icon of Saint Nicholas the Hierarch, his patron saint received at Holy Baptism.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Father Vasile received congratulations from the clergy and the numerous faithful in attendance, who thanked him for his sacrificial ministry and spiritual guidance throughout the years. They also acknowledged his faithful continuation of the work begun by his father, preserving the tradition of uninterrupted pastoral service in this parish for more than five decades.
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
