MThA Commemorates St. John the Theologian & Marks 70th Anniversary of Intercession Church's Great Consecration

The Apostle John was the beloved disciple of the Lord. Meekness, sincerity, and simplicity made him a true theologian. Thanks to his virtues and pure heart, the apostle became a partaker in the mysteries of Divine deeds. Wisdom opened its treasures to him so that he could generously share wisdom with all who thirst for it. 

Today, on the leave-taking of the Feast of Mid-Pentecost, the Church honors the memory of the Holy Apostle John, whose heart was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Lord, according to His word, makes His disciple a life-giving spring from which flows the blessed water of life. Today, everyone can come to the Apostle John, open his Gospel, and partake of this life-giving source. 

On this day, St. John invites every Christian to become a participant in the Divine Feast. Today, he prepares this present celebration and calls all the faithful to hear the voice of God at the festive Liturgy. 

On the morning of May 21, the academic community gathered in the Intercession Church to honor the memory of the Apostle John and partake of the Divine Eucharist. The Liturgy was led by Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy. 

During the service, His Grace ordained Konstantin Lotikhius, a 4th-year undergraduate student, to the diaconate.

A pre-Communion sermon was delivered by Hieromonk Kassian (Plotsky).

After the Liturgy, the clergy performed a service of praise before the icon of the Apostle. 

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Great Consecration of MThA’s Intercession Church. On May 21, 1955, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the house church of the theological school after many years of Soviet devastation. On that day 70 years ago, His Holiness was concelebrated by Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov), Abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra; Archpriest Konstantin Ruzhitsky, Rector of the MThA; Priest Konstantin Nechaev (the future Metropolitan Pitirim); as well as clergy and guests of the church. 

The previous evening, the clergy of the academic church celebrated the All-Night Vigil. The festive Litiya was led by Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev), and the Vigil by Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov). 

Background information:

The liturgical hymns were performed by the 1st Academic Choir under the direction of E.V. Borovinsky and the 2nd Mixed Choir under the direction of K.A. Alekseeva.

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The Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos (MThA’s house church) was transferred to the Academy by Soviet authorities in late 1954. In December, the stage of the Zagorsk City House of Culture was demolished. On January 22, 1955, Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov), Abbot of the Lavra, celebrated a prayer service for the commencement of work. An iconostasis was installed before the consecration. Artistic work continued after the consecration. That same year (October 15), MThA received: The Bachelor’s Building (now the Academy’s main building); The Inspectorate Building (now the Lavra’s Guesthouse 1); The Infirmary Building (then still housing 15 families); The Library Building (then hosting a branch of the Moscow Regional Institute of Correspondence Education and residential occupants).

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