Academy prayed to the Assembly of Moscow Saint Bishops

On October 17 and 18, on the day of Moscow saints the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite together with the academic clergy officed Sunday services at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy.

On October 18, the Holy Church celebrates the memory of Moscow saint bishops: Peter, Theognost, Alexy, Cyprian, Photius, Jonah, Gerontius, Joasaph, Macarius, Philip, Job, Hermogenes, Tikhon, Peter, Philaret, Innokentiy and Macarius. Despite living in different centuries, each of them had a gift from the Lord. They were inspiring speakers and miracle workers, gave a wise word of council to Russian grand dukes and princes, enlightened their flocks or built marvelous churches and cathedrals. However, all that they did, they did for the love of Christ and their land.

The Assembly of Moscow saints is a big day for Russian Church. The transfer of the Metropolitan Chair from Kiev to Moscow enabled to preserve the purity of the Orthodox faith, confirmed the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church and later establish a patriarchate.

On the holiday eve, the choir glorified the saints with the following words:

Let us sing the praises to Christ's saints, they were the most serene preachers of the Gospel, they were church guardians and intercessors of a Russian land; by their prayers, Christ, have mercy and defeat our great enemies».

On October 18, at the Divine Liturgy we could here the passage from the Gospel of Matthew:

You are the natural light of the world: the city cannot hide from the top of a mountain while standing».

The Moscow saints were that light. They diligently served the Church and people fulfilling the word of God and His commands.

After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

Hieromonk Damian (Voronov) preached a sermon in which he highlighted the necessity to imitate the faith of saints.

Faith is a main driving force that transforms us. Thanks to it, we are able, according to the word of the Lord Himself, to transform the reality around us ... When our faith is firm and all embracing, then there are no barriers for us and nothing can disturb us. It means that peace and harmony reign in our souls, we start blooming like a flower and fill out mind with good feelings and thoughts».

Today the Church also honors the memory of Monk Damian, who was a presbyter and a healer of the Caves. After glorifying the Moscow saints, Bishop Theodorite congratulated Hieromonk Damian (Voronov) on his name-day.

Chanting was performed by a male choir led by Dmitry Mikhalev and a female choir under the conduct of Ksenia Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office

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