The Academy honored the memory of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Today the Church celebrates the 630th anniversary of the repose of St. Sergius of Radonezh. In honor of the Reverend solemn divine services took place at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy. 

On October 7, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, and the Metropolitan of Voskresensk Dionisiy, Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, officed the All-night Vigil at the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

During the service, Bishop Kirill celebrated the Litiya and blessed the bread.

The Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, officed the All-night Vigil at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by other bishops and the clergy of the Academy.

The Bishop of Buzuluk and Sorochinsk Alexy officed a festive Litiya.

Before reading the Kathismas, Igor Myachin, a second-year post-graduate student, delivered a sermon, in which he drew an attention to such qualities of St. Sergius as his humility and wisdom. Humility allows a person to see real self without illusions and conceit. 

The Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vicenti, Head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, officed the All-night Vigil in the church of St. John Climacus co-served by bishops, teachers and students of the Academy in the priesthood.

The Bishop of Kanash and Belovolga Stephan officed a Litiya and blessed the bread.

Before the Kathismas, Ivan Petrashov, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.

On October 8, the Rector Bishop Kirill and the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin performed the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy.

The divine service was attended by students, teachers, staff and numerous guests of the Academy.

According to the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill a special petition for the health of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin was proclaimed. 

After the Sacrament verse, Timofey Kashkarov, a first-year Master's student, delivered a sermon. In his speech, he summoned to follow the example of St. Sergius in loving his neighbors. 

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Veniamin addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word:

I am glad to greet you and congratulate you on the feast of St. Sergius of Radonezh. We admire the deeds of this amazing saint. Everyone can find something useful in the image of St. Sergius for himself. Today, the Lord encourages us to follow the example of the saint. St. Sergius gathers his disciples in a monastery like a bird gathers its chicks. So, we are gathered today in this monastery and in this church as partakers of his children, his disciples asking the God’s Grace to have a joy at the everlasting life..

The Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vikenty performed the Divine Liturgy at the church of St. John Climacus co-served by the archpastors and the clergy of a seminarian church.

After the Sacrament verse, Peter Pisarev, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon:

By trusting Christ and opening his heart to Him, St. Sergius was able to transform not only his own life, but other people’s lives, and even the his natural environment. The heavenly light that St. Sergius carried in his soul illuminated to the whole world around him..

After the service, Metropolitan Vikenty delivered a sermon:

I congratulate you on the feast of St. Sergius of Radonezh. This miracle worker and a great saint worked all his earthly life to acquire spiritual virtues. One of the important of which was humility and obedience to the will of God, love for God and his neighbors. People from all over the Russian land were drawn to him. Many came to get his guidance in a spiritual life. Dear brothers and sisters, nowadays we still feel St. Sergius’ intercession and his help in all our needs and sorrows. That is why we love and honor him. Therefore, on this holiday, a large number of bishops, priests, and laity come to the Reverend. People go to this source of living water to be nourished, to receive his blessings. God grant that we have this source of living water flowing to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Background information:

Clergy officed the All-Night Vigil at the Trinity Cathedral: the Metropolitan of Voskresensk Dionysius co-served by the Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost, the Bishop of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk Thomas, the Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Thomas, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill.

Chanting at the Trinity Cathedral performed by a choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky.

Clergy served at the Intercession Academic Church: the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsk Veniamin co-served by the Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Tyumen Dimitry, the Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Eugene, the Bishop of Buzuluk and Sorochinsk Alexy, the Bishop of Skopinsk and Shatsk Pitirim, the Bishop of Pinsk and Luninets George and the academic clergy.

Clergy served the All-Night Vigil at the Church of St. John Climacus: the Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vikenty co-served by the Metropolitan of Tomsk and Asinov Rostislav, the Bishop of Kanash and Belovolga Stephan and the clergy of a seminarian church.

Clergy performed the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church: the Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Tyumen Dimitry, the Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Eugene, the Bishop of Buzuluk and Sorochinsky Alexy, the Bishop of Skopinsk and Shatsk Pitirim, the Bishop of Pinsk and Luninets George, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, and the academic clergy.

Clergy performed the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John Climacus: the Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vikenty co-served by the Metropolitan of Tomsk and Asinov Rostislav, the Bishop of Orsk and Gai Irenaeus, the Bishop of Kanash and Belovolga Stephan, the Bishop of Kostomuksha and Kem Boris.

Chanting at the Intercession Academic Church performed by a choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov.

Chanting at the Church of St. John Climacus performed by a choir under the conduct of K.A. Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office