Bishop Theodorite celebrated Sunday services at the Intercession Academic Church
On October 23 and 24, Sunday services were held at the Intercession Academic Church.
Today the Church honors memory of the Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council convened by Empress Irina to condemn the heresy of iconoclasts. They taught that God cannot be portrayed, because no one has ever seen Him.
At the Council, Fathers of Church formulated the Orthodox teaching about a religious image, which says that the honor given to the image does not refer to an icon itself, but to the one depicted on it. Due to the fact that God became a man, icons were possible to make.
From the Father shone the Son inexpressibly, from the Lady born by nature, the One Who we see and we do not exclude the possibility of an image, but piously tracing we honor it faithfully. For the sake of the true faith as the Church holds, we venerate the icon of Incarnated Christ».
On October 23, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed an All-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.
During the divine service, Bishop Theodorite elevated Reader Vladimir Sologub, a 2nd-year Master’s student, to a rank of Subdeacon.
Before the Kathisma, Deacon Ioann Penkov, a 3rd-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.
On October 24, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.
While singing antiphons, the Rector tonsured 4th-year undergraduate students Vasily Smirnov, Alexei Gutov, Vitaly Korytko and Vladimir Kuznetsov as Readers.
After reading the Holy Gospel, the Rector addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.
During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite ordained Deacon Mikhail Kvachev, a 2nd year Master’s student, into a priest and Subdeacon Vladimir Sologub into a deacon.
After singing the sacrament verse, Dmitry Leskov, a 4th year undergraduate student delivered a sermon:
Let us pray to God, so that no temptations and attacks could break our will and destroy our like-mindedness. Let us be attentive to our words and actions and do not turn into those who divide the Church, but on the contrary, contribute to the unity of our large family. By our actions the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, is glorifiedх».
Background information:
Chanting performed by a second mixed choir under the conduct of K.A. Alekseeva and a first academic choir led by V.V. Chuvilov.
MThA Press Office
[justified_image_grid flickr_user=164238858@N03 flickr_photoset=72157720062590518]