Source: Metropolis of Chisinau and All Moldova
October 10, 2016
It is worthy of all veneration before God, and it is an act of reverence, to celebrate, in divine services and church singing, the memory of saints who were glorified in God.
Taking into consideration the pious life of the ever-memorable hierarch Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin, his pastoral and missionary service for the illumination of the clergy and right-believing people between Prut and Dniester, and following the report of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova and of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, held on July 15, 2016, in its art. No. 68, decided for the beatification of the God-pleasing hierarch, for the local veneration of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
Thus, on Saturday, September 3, 2016, the Holy Monastery of Capriana hosted the canonization service of Metropolitan Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni, to which, according to the decision of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, were invited hierarchs from all dioceses where this ever-memorable archpastor had served during his earthly life.
Numerous Christians from all corners of the country were present today in the heart of the woods of Moldova, at the Holy Monastery of Capriana, to bring veneration and prayers to Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Hotin.
During the event, the last commemoration service of Metropolitan Gavriil was officiated, after which the Canonization Tomos and brief life description of Hierarch Gavriil were read out.
Following the Divine Liturgy, all clergy participated in a thanksgiving Te Deum service, giving glory to God for the blessing cast on our Church and the faithful nation.
“Let us give glory and worship to God, wonderful in His saints, for this holy fulfillment of our Church – the canonization of Holy Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni”, mentioned the archpastor of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir in his sermon. His Eminence Vladimir thanked all those who had participated for many years in the research of the canonization portfolio of Metropolitan Gavriile Banulescu Bodoni, especially to the members of the Commission of Canonization of saints of the Republic of Moldova and its Chairman, His Grace Petru, Bishop of Ungheni and Nisporeni.
Finally, the metropolitan, hierarchs, priests and laity, replenished spiritually, in silence and good order, bent in reverence before the relics of Holy Hierarch Gavriil that had been placed in a shrine near the voyevodal crypt, the place where the saint had been buried before.
The commemoration day of Holy Hierarch Gavriil Banulescu Bodoni was set for the day of his exit to eternity, March 30/April 12.
Holy Hierarch Gavriil, pray to God for us!
