His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Metropolitan Cathedral “Nativity of the Lord” in the capital, the Divine Liturgy dedicated to the great Feast of the Annunciation.
On this day, when an emblematic event for Christianity is commemorated, the faithful came to the church to participate in the divine service, offering due glory to God, Who was well pleased to announce to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, through His Archangel, that she would give birth in purity to the Savior of mankind.
The divine service was adorned by the ordination of Subdeacon Maxim Stepanov, a second-year student at the “Saint Dumitru Stăniloae” Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iași, to the rank of deacon for the “All Saints Glorified in the Land of Moldova” Church, Rîșcani sector of the capital.
With the blessing of the Archpastor, the interpretation of the Gospel and of today’s feast was delivered by Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary and Ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, who encouraged the faithful to continue observing the Holy and Great Lent in prayer and purity, partaking of the Holy and Life-giving Mysteries of Christ, so that, returning to their homes, they may keep prayer in their hearts and minds.
The Feast of the Annunciation is the joy of heaven and earth. Above all, it is a feast of joy. For the first word spoken by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, when he came to bring her the greatest news in the history of mankind, was “Rejoice!”. And indeed, after the initial moment of wonder caused by such unexpected tidings, understanding that the messenger had come with power from God (for the name “Gabriel” is interpreted as “God is my strength”), the whole being of the Virgin Mary was filled with ineffable joy, especially at the moment when the Archangel said to her: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace!”
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
