His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, celebrated the Holy and Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in the town of Ocnița.
Concelebrating with the Primate were His Eminence Sava, Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubăsari; His Eminence Anatolie, Archbishop of Cahul and Comrat; His Eminence Petru, Archbishop of Ungheni and Nisporeni; His Eminence Marchel, Archbishop of Bălți and Fălești; His Eminence Nicodim, Archbishop of Edineț and Briceni; and His Eminence Ioan, Archbishop of Soroca and Drochia; the Vicars of the Metropolis: His Grace Siluan, Bishop of Orhei, and His Grace Filaret, Bishop of Căpriana; His Grace Nicolae, Bishop of Ceadîr-Lunga, Vicar of the Diocese of Cahul and Comrat; and His Grace Patrocl, Bishop of Dondușeni, Vicar of the Diocese of Edineț and Briceni; Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Mitred Archpriest and Secretary of the Metropolis; Archpriest Adrian Cotelea, Mitred Archpriest, Secretary of the Diocese of Edineț and Briceni and parish priest of the host church; deans, abbots, and a large gathering of priests and deacons.
In recognition of their long service and of the positions they have held over the years in the diocesan administration, during the Little Entrance, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir granted Archpriest Adrian Cotelea, diocesan secretary, and Archpriest Alexandru Usatîi, dean of Ocnița, the right to wear a second cross with precious stones.
After the Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum of thanksgiving and for health was offered to the Lord. Then Metropolitan Vladimir bestowed on His Grace Patrocl the Order of “St. Paisius Velichkovsky,” First Class, and an engolpion, congratulating him on his 50th birthday and wishing him many years of sacrificial service to the Holy Church and her faithful.
In his address, His Grace Patrocl thanked the Primate, the hierarchs present, the serving priests, and all the faithful for the beautiful service and the words of congratulation, assuring them of his desire to serve with dedication in the Lord’s vineyard.
P.S. His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir will celebrate the Liturgy tomorrow, 4 November, on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chișinău, beginning at 07:45.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
