Moscow Theological Academy entered the period of the Great Lent

On Monday March 15, students of the Moscow Theological Academy prayed at the services of the first week of the Great Lent at the Intercession Academic Church.

At the time of the Great Lent, a structure of divine services completely changes. They become stricter, longer and less solemn. In addition, there are frequent bows to the ground and repentant chants. 

On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning services consist of Matins, Hours, the Pictorial and Vespers omitting the Divine Liturgy. And yet the Church takes care of her children and does not leave them without consolation and Easter joy providing the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays and Fridays, at which believers can receive the Holy Communion.

Also, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read on the first four days of the Great Lent during an evening service called Great Compline.

According to the tradition, on the first day of the Great Lent, the clergy of the academic church performed most of the reading. At the evening service, the Rector Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite read the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

During the period of the Great Lent, the Church encourages people to pray not only for the forgiveness of their sins, but also for the departed members. On weekdays, a funeral lithium is served after Vespers. Bishop Theodorite performed it today at the Intercession Academic Church.

At Great Compline at Intercession church, the Rector Bishop Theodorite read the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. The whole text evokes a feeling of repentance and calls the believers to reconsider their lives and make a worthy sacrifice to the Creator:

«Do not demand worthy fruits of repentance from me, the Savior, as my strength is exhausted; grant me an ever broken heart and spiritual poverty, so that I can offer them to You as a pleasing sacrifice».

At the end of the service, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

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