The Synaxis of the Theotokos: The Mother of God is the one who unites for the eternity the humanity with God

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” Luke 2, 14

The second day after the Nativity of the Lord, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Theotokos, one of the oldest feasts of the Mother of God dating back as far as to the 5^th century.

Also on this day the Church commemorates Saint Joseph the Betrothed, King David (an ancestor by flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ), and Saint James the Brother of the Lord, a son of the first marriage of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. Saint James accompanied his father Joseph and the Mother of God and the Divine-Infant Jesus on the Flight into Egypt.

It has become a tradition that on this day all arch-pastors of the Orthodox Church of Moldova unite in common prayer at the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral.

Thus, on Sunday, the 8^th of January, the hierarchs of the dioceses of the Metropolis of Moldova united in the Divine Liturgy, to concelebrate to His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova.

After the Divine Service, Archbishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubasari congratulated the Metropolitan, on behalf of all bishops of the Moldovan Church, wishing to the Arch-Pastor long live, protected from danger and temptations, and steadiness in good pasturing of the faithful flock.

The Metropolitan was also congratulated by Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, the Metropolitan Secretary and Dean of the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral. On behalf of all priests present at the service, Archpriest Vadim thanked to the Arch-pastor for spiritual guidance, care, and love for the clergy and church-goers.

In the end, the Cathedral’s choir of children delighted the Metropolitan, the arch-pastors, clergy, and all church-goers present at the Divine Service, with a performance of Christmas Carols.

Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Relations with the Mass-Media