The Academy held Sunday services

The feast of Pentecost is already over, but Christians do not stop their striving for unity in the Holy Spirit. Like every work of salvation, it is based not only on God’s will, but also on human freedom.

In the Gospel of Matthew the Lord says «take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls» (Mat.11:29). Apostle Paul describes the way how to do this in his epistle to the Galathians: «Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ» (Gal.6:1-2). It shows that sacrificial love can allow the grace of the Holy Spirit to influence human relationships and put them on the path of spiritual freedom and unity.

On June 24, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officiated an All-night Vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.

Before the Kathisma, Ivan Romanov, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon. In his speech, the preacher touched upon the topic of spiritual progress, which can be maintained by everyday exercise in striving for Christ and fulfilling God’s commandments.

On June 25, Bishop Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy. 

At the special litany, petitions were raised up for the Fatherland, its army and the unity of Holy Rus'.

After the Great Entrance, the Rector ordained Deacon Andrey Boldyrev, a second-year post-graduate student at the Sretenskaya Theological Academy, into a presbyter.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Kirill ordained Seraphim Alpatov, an employee of the Sretenskaya Theological Academy, into a deacon.

A sermon at the morning service was delivered by Reader Ivan Tarabukhin, a first year Master's student.

At the end the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Kirill addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

Background information:

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrites Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Hegumen Adrian (Pashin), Archpriest Sergiy Zabelich, Hegumen Melety (Sokolov), Priest Dimitry Baritsky, Hieromonks Theodore (Yulaev), Cassian (Plosky), Mikhey (Kopytov) ), Boris (Zelyuchenko), Priests Nikita Sorokoletov, Andrei Boldyrev, Deacons Dimitry Maslov, Hierodeacons Innokenty (Melikhov), Anthony (Streblyachenko), Deacons Miodrag Radovanovich and Serafim Alpatov.

Chanting performed by the first academic choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky. 

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