“Lord, it is good for us to be here”. The Academy celebrated Transfiguration of the Lord

On August 19, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today, white colour of sacerdotal dresses symbolizes the Divine light shown into the world to sanctify all the creation.

To reveal His glory and Divine nature in order to strengthen His disciples’ faith before coming sufferings and death on the Cross, Christ took Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Мф. 17:2).

John the Evangelist says: «Бог есть свет, и нет в Нем никакой тьмы» “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 5-7).

«Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah». (Matthew 17: 4).

On August 18, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated a festive all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.

During the reading of the Canon, Bishop Theodorite elevated Reader Andrey Zotin, a third-year post-graduate student, into the rank of a subdeacon.

On August 19, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

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

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite ordained Hierodeacon Mikhey (Kopytov), a second-year Master’s student, into an hieromonk and Subdeacon Andrey Zotin into a deacon.

After singing the sacrament verse, Hieromonk Thaddeus (Pryadun) delivered a sermon.

At the end of the service, Bishop Theodorite consecrated the new harvest of grapes and fruit. 

After that, Hieromonk Vyacheslav (Sorokin), Vice-Rector for Educational Work, congratulated Bishop Theodorite on the anniversary of his episcopal ordination on behalf of teachers, students and academic staff.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a female choir under the conduct of Ksenia Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office

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