Moscow region, Sergiev Posad, Lavra, Academy

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Bishop Theodorite performed the Devine Liturgy on the feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God

The Annunciation is a feast of joy and hope. Once the Lord sent His Archangel Gabriel to announce to the Virgin Mary a joyful message that She became the Mother of God. He said that you would conceive in Her womb and brought forth a Son. He would be great, and would be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God would give Him the throne of His father David. He would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there would be no end. Virgin Mary replied: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”(Luke 1:38).

The events of the Annunciation teach Christians to trust the Providence of God. After all, the Most Holy Virgin accepted God’s will with great humility and agreed to become the Mother of God.

“This day of our salvation is the beginning and the eternal sacrament: the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin and Gabriel preaches the gospel of Grace. Therefore, we will cry out to the Mother of God: “Rejoice, Blessed One, the Lord is with You!” ”.

On April 6, the Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Eugene officed an all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church, co-served by the Rector Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite.

At the service, Bishop Theodorite appointed a second-year Master student Philip Islomov to the rank of a subdeacon.

On April 7, Metropolitan Eugene headed services at the academic church, which consist of Hours, Pictorials, Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, co-served by the Rector Bishop Theodorite and the academic clergy.

After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word. 

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite ordained a first-year Master student Deacon Georgy Shabalov into a presbyter and a second-year Master student Subdeacon Philip Islomov into a deacon.

At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite thanked Metropolitan Eugene for the joint service and congratulated him and all parishioners with the feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God.

After that, the archpastors, according to a tradition let white doves go into the sky.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by Ksenia Tarelkina.

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MThA Press Office