"May all human flesh be silent": Holy Saturday services at the Academy

On May 1, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite officed services on Holy Saturday at the Intercession Academic Church and celebrated the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

Holy Saturday is the day when Christ was in a tomb and humanity awaits His Resurrection. So, services of the day is full of both sorrow and a great joy that will follow after. 

While singing the stichera, Bishop Theodorite tonsured 2nd year students of the Moscow Theological Academy Georgy Fedorov, Daniil Lyannov, Vadim Zhilkov and Ilia Golikov as Readers.

The Vespers include 15 pieces of ancient prophecies about the Passion of the Savior, His death and Resurrection, as well as the glory of the Holy Church.

At the Litany, they prayed for deliverance from a harmful epidemic and read a prayer for peace in the world.

Holy Saturday is a day of peace and quiet, hope and expectation. The traditional Cherubims’ song is replaced by an ancient hymn of the Jerusalem Church:

Let all human flesh be silent, let it stand with fear and tremble, let nothing earthly being think that the King of kings and the Lord of lords comes to be slayed and given to the faithful. Angels and all Heavenly Forces, Cherubims and Seraphims cover their faces crying Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah.

After the chant “Don't weep for me, Mother” Bishop Theodorite ordained Subdeacon Ioann Penkov, a 3rd year student of the Moscow Theological Academy, into a deacon.

Before taking out the Holy Chalice, Hieromonk Tavrion (Smykov) delivered a sermon. 

At the end of the service, Bishop Theodorite blessed some bread and wine.

Background information: 

Chanting performed by a male choir under the cobduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by K.A. Alekseeva.

MThA Press Office

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