Academy celebrated the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos

Today, the Holy Church honors the deed of the Most Holy Theotokos, who in 910 covered the city of Constantinople with Her veil. Seeing Her protection from the barbaric invasion, the Christians could again ascertain the patronage of the Blessed Virgin.

St. Andrew the holy for Christ's sake fool and his disciple Epiphanius witnessed the appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church as She took off Her veil and stretching it over the heads of the worshipers showed that their prayers had been heard.

The Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the main annual celebrations at the Moscow Theological Academy. Teachers, staff and students share sweet memories and love for the Intercession Academic Church, which today celebrates its patronal feast. They believe that similarly to the miracle happened long ago in Constantinople the Mother of God keeps on protecting us with Her veil exalting prayers at the Throne of the Lord.

On October 13, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed an all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church. He was co-served by the academic clergy, ordained teachers and students of the Moscow Theological Academy.

On October 14, Archpriest Sergius Zabelich, performed a rite of blessing the water before the Divine Liturgy. After that, Hieromonk Kassian (Plosskyj) performed a lity for the deceased academic teachers.

The Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church. After reading the Gospel, the MThA Rector addressed an assembly with a sermon.

Before the Holy Communion Hieromonk Dometian (Kurlanov) delivered his sermon, in which he recalled a story of the holiday and urged believers to address the Most Holy Theotokos as often as possible.

After that, Archpriest Mikhail Vakhrushev, First Deputy Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, read out a congratulatory letter from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite awarded teachers and staff of the Moscow Theological Academy with church honorary distinctions.

The following teachers and employees of the Moscow Theological Academy were given award badges for their educational work and in connection with their personal anniversaries:

• Archimandrite Benedict (Knyazev) - Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd degree;

• Archpriest Alexander Shargunov - Order of St. Innocent, 1st degree;
  
• Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov) - Order of St. Macarius 1st degree;
  
• Archpriest Sergiy Zabelich - Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 3rd degree;
  
• Nadezhda Anatolyevna Myagi - Order of the Monk Euphrosyne, 3rd degree;
  
• Anna Vladimirovna Puzyreva - Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 3rd degree;
  
• Larisa Vasilievna Kraevskaya - Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh;
  
• Natalya Alexandrova Tsaryuk - Medal of St. Andrew;
  
• Vera Vasilievna Panova - Medal of the Monk Euphrosyne.
  

Abbots Nikiphor (Kirzin), Philip (Zhilyakov), nun Mikhea (Khadarina) and Evgenia Ivanovna Karaman were granted with Patriarchal diplomas. 

Bishop Theodorite also greeted Hegumen Gerasim (Dyachkov), Deputy Rector for Administrative and Economic Work, on his 45th anniversary and presented an ancient icon of the Apparition of the Most Holy Theotokos to St. Sergius. 

At the festive lunch M.V. Kovshov, Associate Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, read out the congratulatory messages sent to the Academy by other theological institutions.

MThA Press Office

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