On the evening of Pascha Sunday, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, surrounded by priests, deacons, and faithful, celebrated the Paschal Vespers, also known as the “Second Resurrection”, at the Metropolitan Cathedral “Nativity of the Lord” in Chișinău.
During the service, the Metropolitan read the Gospel passage from the Holy Evangelist John (20:19–25):
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’”
Congratulating all those present on the Great Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, Metropolitan Vladimir wished that this holy celebration may bring harmony among people, so that all the faithful may be made worthy of the Savior’s sacrifice on the Cross and rejoice in His life-giving Resurrection.
At the conclusion, His Eminence offered gifts to the children present at the divine service and imparted his hierarchical blessing to the faithful.
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
