The Moscow Theological Academy celebrated the Intercession of the Mother of God
Today, together with a host of angels and saints Christians glorify the Blessed Virgin.
The apostles and prophets stand before the Mother of God and ask to spread Her blessed Cover over the whole earth and people.
The patronal feast of the Moscow Theological Academy gathered a number of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra.
On October 13, 2024, the Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Eugene headed the festive All-Night Vigil, co-celebrating with the Bishop of Istra Seraphim, the Bishop of Venev Theodorite, the Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Abbot of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, the Bishop of Kansk and Boguchansk Vyacheslav, as well as the academic clergy and guests in the priesthood.
During the service, Bishop Vyacheslav performed a festive litany and offered a prayer for the consecration of bread.
Before the Kathisma, Oleg Muravyov, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.
On October 14, the Academy gathered at the Divine Liturgy. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, the service was led by the Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolis, the Metropolitan of Krutitsk and Kolomna Pavel co-celebrated by the Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Eugene, the Bishop of Shatsk and Skopinsk Pitirim, the Bishop of Istra Seraphim, the Bishop of Venev Theodorite, the Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Abbot of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, the Bishop of Kansk and Boguchansk Vyacheslav, Archimandrite Afanasy (Sokolov), Rector of the Minsk Theological Academy, Archpriest Vadim Suvorov, Rector of the Kolomna Theological Seminary, Hieromonk Apollinariy (Panin), Rector of the Pererva Theological Seminary, Hieromonk Luka (Pronskikh), Rector of the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary, Hegumen Anthony (Kadyshev), Vice-rector for educational work of the All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, Hieromonk Meliton (Pavlov), Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Priest Artemy Kirko, Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Minsk Theological Seminary, Hieromonk Savva (Shapovalov), Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs of the Minsk Theological Seminary, and the clergy of the Moscow Theological Academy.
The diaconal rank was headed by Patriarchal Archdeacon Konstantin Bargan.
After the Sacrament verse, Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky), Associate Professor of the Department of Philology at the Moscow Theological Academy, delivered a sermon.
At the end of the Liturgy, the clergy glorified the Most Holy Theotokos in front of the festive icon.
After the Liturgy, the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna Pavel addressed an assembly with a welcoming speech.
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, today we have gathered in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill blessed me to lead the celebration. Taking an opportunity, I convey the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch. Serving in this church is very important for me because my deaconal and priestly ordinations took place. The Lord gave me the opportunity to stay within the walls of the Lavra and study at the Moscow Theological Seminary, and then at the Academy for eight years. Therefore, every time I come to the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, my heart is filled with joy.
Today each of us touched Heaven in prayerful communication with the Mother of God.
We remember those distant times when the Blessed Virgin appeared to all those praying in the temple, as ancient writers say, when a threat loomed over Constantinople. Pagan northern tribes attacked the capital of Byzantine. All the people gathered in the Blachernae Church and prayed to the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos day and night. People were overcome with a feeling of repentance. After the dismissal, having venerated the Cross, you and I would leave this church and return to our lives. But those people felt like they might not leave the church. The Mother of God heard the sincere prayers of Her people and spread Her Divine maternal cover promising the save their lives.
The Greek Church unfortunately did not keep the memory of this event. They did not take this lesson, unlike our ancestors, who, it would seem, attacked Constantinople. Of course, they were pagans then. Despite this, they came to their senses and received the Orthodox faith as a gift and a great treasure.
Today, we believe and hope that the Mother of God does not leave us and covers everyone who strives to live according to God’s commandments..
Background information:
Chanting performed by the third mixed choir under the conduct of K.A. Bukurova and the first academic Choir led by E.V. Borovinsky.
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