The Academy celebrated the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos

Today, a large academic family celebrates its patronal holiday, the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. This holiday is a symbol of love and unceasing help of the Mother of God.

Despite the fact that the holiday is not included in twelve major holidays of a church year, the Academy glorifies the Most Holy Theotokos with a special feeling.

Today, the faithful people are solemnly celebrating overshadowed by Thy, Mother of God, coming; and looking at Your most pure image cheering “Protect us with Your sacred Veil and save us from all evil, praying to Your Son, Christ the God, to have a mercy on our souls”». 

On October 13, the Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Ambrose officed the All-night vigil at the home church of the Moscow Theological Academy consecrated in honour of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. He was co-served by the Bishop of Skopinsk and Shatsk Pitirim, Rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary, the Bishop of Zaraisk Konstantin, and the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy.

On October 14, the Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Ambrose performed the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the Bishop of Skopinsk and Shatsk Pitirim, Rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary, the Bishop Zaraisk Konstantin; the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy; the Bishop of Istra Seraphim, Chairman of the Joint Doctoral Dissertation Council of the Moscow, St. Petersburg and Minsk Theological Academies, Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee; Hieromonk Korniliy (Zaitsev), Rector of the Yekaterinburg Theological Seminary, Hieromonk Apollinary (Panin), Rector of the Perervin Theological Seminary; Archpriest Vladimir Chuvikin, a confessor of the Perervin Theological Seminary; Archpriest Sergei Zolotarev, a senior lecturer at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Hieromonk Philophey (Artyushin), Vice-Rector for Educational Work at the Tula Theological Seminary, as well as invited guests and the clergy of the Intercession Academic Church.

After singing the sacrament verse, priest Dimitri Baritsky, Associate professor of the Biblical Studies and Philology Department at the Moscow Theological Academy, delivered a sermon.

At the end, Bishop Theodorite addressed some words of gratitude to guests and parishioners, who arrived to pray and celebrate a patronal day of the Moscow Theological Academy.

In his turn, Bishop Ambrose thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his blessing to take part in divine services at the Intercession Academic Church and congratulated all those who came to solemnly honour the Mother of God. 

Background information:

Chanting performed by a joint male choir under the conduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and the mixed choir led by K.A. Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office