Bishop Theodorite concelebrated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

On April 29, Great Thursday, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and the rite of consecration of the holy chrism at Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

The Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, co-served His Holiness at the Liturgy of St. Basil. The Great.

Archpriest Vladimir Divakov, a senior priest, with an alavaster of the ancient chrism and two pairs of priests with vessels of new chrism took part in a procession of the Great Entrance. At the Royal Doors, His Holiness the Patriarch received the alavaster and placed it on the throne. The vessels with new chrism were placed to the sides the throne. 

After the Eucharistic Canon, the Patriarch performed the rite of consecrating the chrism. 

While singing the troparion of Pentecost, His Holiness poured the ancient chrism into each vessel with the newly consecrated one. Then, according to tradition, the Patriarch filled in the alavastre with the newly consecrated chrism.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Hieromonk Mitrofan (Matytsyn), a guardian of the holy chrism, and other clergymen carried the alavaster and vessels with new chrism to the temple of the Synodal residence in Danilov Monastery. With the blessing of His Holiness the Patriach, the chrism will be transferred to all dioceses of the Moscow Metochion.

Before the Communion, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, delivered a sermon.

The MThA Press Office/Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia