Academy Celebrates the Feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem

On April 12, the sixth Sunday of Great Lent, the Church celebrates the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.

Like the people who greeted Christ in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago, believers today bring willow branches to the church. This is why the feast is popularly called Palm Sunday or the Sunday of Palms. In northern countries, willows bloom earlier than other trees, so our ancestors chose them for this celebration. In warmer regions, believers greet Christ with palm branches and flowers.

Today, Christ entered the ancient city of Jerusalem. Humanity, since the fall, had awaited the Messiah, and now He has come to fulfill the prophecies. The crowd that gathered around Him, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” will, by Friday, cry out, “Crucify Him!”

The Lord entered Jerusalem, where a death sentence would be pronounced against Him. He would be crucified outside the city walls as a criminal. He did this to deliver us from the power of sin and death. Thus, today the Church proclaims: 

“Hosanna in the highest, and we cry to You: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

On April 12, the eve of the Sunday, the academic community gathered for the All-Night Vigil in the Intercession Church to prayerfully honor the feast and glorify the Savior. The service was led by Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev).

During Great Vespers, the clergy performed a festive litany, at which Archimandrite Venedikt offered a prayer for the blessing of the loaves for the worshippers. 

On April 13, the day of the feast, the faculty and students of the theological academy gathered again in the Intercession Church to partake in the Divine Eucharist and give thanks to the Lord. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was led by Archimandrite Venedikt, assisted by the academy’s clergy. 

The sermon before Communion was delivered by Hieromonk Filaret (Zubov).

After the Liturgy, the clergy performed a glorification of the Lord before the festal icon.

Background information:

Chanting performed by the second academic choir under the conduct of A.O. Leventsova and the first mixed choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya. 

MThA Press Office