The Academy served the first Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

God and His divine wisdom are incomprehensible to human mind. Holy Scripture metaphorically describes the divine inaccessibility by the concept of "darkness". The Lord is pleased to dwell in darkness (1 Sam. 8:12), His footstool is darkness, His shade and shelter is the darkness of the waters, the clouds of the air (Ps. 17:10, 12). Moses enters the darkness to behold God.

At the same time, Scripture testifies that in Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John.1:4-5); He dresses in light as in a garment (Ps. 103:2). That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world (John.1:9).

At first glance, there is a contradiction, however, it is paradoxically resolved by holy fathers. In the epistle of St. Dionysius the Areopagite to deacon Dorotheus there are amazing words:  

Divine darkness is that impregnable Light, where God lives».

Indeed, searching of God and longing to meet Him face to face, the human mind plunges into divine darkness, while the heart sees an inexpressible light that illuminates a person’s life path.

In the days of the Great Lent, the Christian’s heart is directed towards the true Light and wants to become part of Him. Therefore, it exclaims with hope:

You, Lord, are my Light that has come into the world, the Holy Light, turning from the darkness of ignorance those who call You with faith».

On March 1, 2023, on Wednesday of the first week of the Great Lent, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, co-served by the academic clergy celebrated the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist at the Intercession Academic Church.

After the Sacrament verse, Pavel Vodolaga, a first-year Master's student, delivered a sermon. The preacher devoted his speech to explaining some features of the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov and a mixed choir led by K.A. Bukurova. 

MThA Press Office