His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina on Sunday visited the Orthodox parish in Draxini, Botosani, where he officiated the Christening of infant Maria Parascheva, the fifth child of priest Ovidiu Lazarescu.
Given the worrying demographic decline in Romania, His Eminence encourages families to give birth to children. As a token of appreciation for families with many children, the Metropolitan participates in the baptism ceremony of every fifth child born to a priest’s family in the Archdiocese of Iasi.
Another example is the family of fr. Ionut Alexandru Figher from Frenciugi, Iasi. Three of his seven children were baptized by Metropolitan Teofan.
In 2016, the Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina baptized the fifth child of Fr. Florentin Urzica, parish priest at the Life-Giving Spring of the Theotokos Church in Agafton, Botosani.
The visit to Draxini was occasioned by the inauguration of the parochial complex including a funeral home, candle stand and two memorials dedicated to national heroes.
As reported by Doxologia, the parish priest Dumitru Chelaru received the priestly title of economos, while Fr. Ovidiu Lazarescu was bestowed the Cross of St Dositheus.
Photography courtesy of Lumina Newspaper / Tudorel Rusu
