The Academy met the beginning of the Dormition Fast and celebrated the Procession of the Venerable and Life-giving Cross

According to the tradition of the Russian Church, the beginning of the Dormition Fast is preceded by a prayerful commemoration of the Procession of the Venerable and Life-giving Cross.

To accomplish the salvation of a human being, God chose the Cross, on which he brings the eternal Sacrifice. Therefore, the Church venerates and exalts the Cross thanking the Savior of the world. Christians cherish the memory of those biblical events when the Lord showed His mercy through the Life-Giving Cross. In the annual liturgical cycle, the Church recorded memorable dates dedicated to the Cross.

On August 14, the Church celebrates the Procession of the Venerable and Life-giving Cross, which originated as a custom of the Constantinople Church to take out particles of the Tree of the Holy Cross from the royal treasury and make a procession through the streets of the city.

Today, Orthodox Christians gather at the Eucharistic Chalice to prayerfully glorify their Savior and honor the Procession of the Venerable and Life-giving Cross.

On August 13 and 14, Archimandrite Hilarion (Farkovets) officiated an All-Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy co-served by the academic clergy at the Intercession Academic Church.

After the Sacramental Verse, Hieromonk Cassian (Plosskiy) delivered a sermon.

After the Divine Liturgy, the academic clergy performed the rite of consecration of new honey harvest.

Background information:

Clergy served at the divine services: Archimandrite Hilarion co-served by Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky), Archpriest Sergiy Zabelich, Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), Priest Valery Dukhanin, Hieromonks Kirill (Sorokin), Cassian (Flat), Athanasius (Italo), Job (Urum), Hierodeacons Ioanniky (Pajan), Innokenty (Melikhov), Anthony (Streblyachenko), Arseniy (Salov), Pimen (Shein).

MThA Press Office

[justified_image_grid preset=c1 flickr_user=164238858@N03 flickr_photoset=72177720310505903]