Chișinău, Moldova, May 23, 2019
Photo: ru.mitropolia.md
Thousands of Orthodox faithful and residents of Moldova filled the streets of the capital on May 18 as they marched in support of traditional families and traditional family values.
The march, held for the fifth year in a row, was led by bishops of the Moldovan Orthodox Church. His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova had called upon the faithful to make their voices heard and participate in the march, reports the site of the Moldovan Church.
The march was held in honor of the International Day of Families, which was celebrated on May 15.
The day began with the Divine Liturgy in the Chișinău Cathedral of St. Theodore the Tyro, celebrated by Met. Vladimir together with three other hierarchs from the Moldovan Church. Following the Liturgy, a moleben for the beginning of a good work was served, followed by the procession itself.
Photo: ru.mitropolia.md
The clerical and lay participants in the procession continually offered up prayers to Almighty God and to the Most Holy Theotokos for the welfare of the country, carrying banners and posters in support of traditional family values and condemning homosexual relations, “which are unnatural and destructive for any society and normal person.”
The procession ended on the cathedral square, where Met. Vladimir thanked all the participants and urged them not to be ashamed to confess their faith in Christ, because the Christian family always has been and will remain an example for society.
Photo: ru.mitropolia.md
As in years past, the procession was attended by President Igor Dodon together with his wife and children.
“Traditionally, along with my family, I took part in the march in support of the traditional family, organized by the Metropolis of Moldova ... Despite attempts to instill alien values in us, more than 90% of our citizens consider themselves supporters and defenders of the traditional family and traditional values, we will not allow to destroy the foundations of our society,” the President wrote on his Facebook page.
The day after the Church’s holy march, hundreds marched through the same streets in the LGBT Solidarity March, as part of the 2019 Moldova Pride Festival, reports Peoples Dispatch.
President Dodon has explicitly rejected invitations to participate in the LGBT march in the past.
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