Academy Celebrates the Nativity of Christ

Today heaven and earth are united in common celebration, for the Creator ordains a hitherto unknown miracle. The angels are perplexed and in awe, sensing the extraordinary event of the Incarnation, they proclaim peace and God's goodwill to people. All nature falls silent this night and waits with excitement for the Birth of God on earth.

The world, still turbulent and vain, lying in evil, does not notice the main event of history. It rages all-consumingly in search of satisfying insatiable feelings. It is incapable of hearing the breath of eternity and becoming a witness to the Mystery. It has completely withdrawn from Truth, Beauty, and Good, and has come to love darkness more than Light. As a gaping, gloomy abyss, it watches those who flee from it into this cold night towards the bright cave where the Savior is born. 

The world does not yet know that it is already vanquished. Terrible in its might, power, and insurmountable malice, it finds itself prostrated at the foot of the poor manger, the very ones in which Christ lies. The fragile Infant has conquered the world. This is the beginning of the Heavenly Kingdom, which has opened today for all humanity. 

All faithful disciples of Christ are called this holy Christmas night to enter the house of God, to share with one another the joy of the present celebration, and to partake of the Mystery of the Incarnation at the Divine Liturgy. 

On the night of January 6-7, faculty and students of the Moscow Theological Academy greeted the Nativity of Christ in common Eucharistic prayer at the Intercession Academic Church. The festive Divine Liturgy was led by Archimandrite Venidikt (Knyazev), concelebrated by the clergy of the Academy.

Numerous guests of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra and the Academy prayed during the service.

Before Communion, the Dean of the Intercession Church, Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), read the Christmas Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

After the Liturgy, Archimandrite Venidikt congratulated the participants of the service on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ and addressed them with an exhortatory word.

On the evening of January 6, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the clergy performed the services of Great Compline, Polyeleos Matins, and the First Hour at the Intercession Academic Church.

The festive litany after Compline was led by Archimandrite Venidikt.

Background information:

The liturgical hymns were performed by the academic choir under the direction of Deacon Alexander Leventsov.

MThA Press Office