The Academy prayerfully honored the memory of St. Mary of Egypt

Sunday is an opportunity for Christians to gather for a common divine service, say their prayers and partake of the Divine Eucharist. Christ gives this gift to everyone who sincerely comes to Him with a pure and loved heart. 

St. Mary of Egypt experienced what does it mean to be deprived of this divine gift. As soon as she changed her life and turned to the repentance, the Lord immediately gave her the gift through His Mother, so she could unite with the Church.

The Church is not based not on some political, philosophical or religious idea, but on a living experience of God in His Sacraments. Only in the Church, we can unite with Christ and this unity does not depend on nationality or social status. It depends on God, Who sees people hearts.

On April 1, the academic clergy officiated an All-Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church.

Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev) celebrated the All-Night Vigil and the Liturgy.

Konstantin Khachapuridze, a second-year Master's student, delivered a sermon after the Eucharistic canon. In his speech, the preacher drew an attention to some remarkable moments in St. Mary of Egypt’s life. 

The Lord providentially closed the doors of His temple so that St. Mary could open the doors of her heart. Meeting once with God’s call, Mary was able to respond to it, take up her cross and follow Christ into the wilderness".

Background information:

Clergy served at the All-night Vigil: Archimandrite Venedikt co-served by Archimandrites Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Simeon (Tomachinsky), Abbots Adrian (Pashin), Philip (Zhilyakov), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), Hegumen Melety (Sokolov), Priest Dimitry Baritsky, Hieromonk Kassian (Plosky), Deacons Dimitry Maslov, Nikolai Goyuk, Hierodeacon Ioanniky (Pajan).

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Archimandrite Venedikt co-served by Archimandrites Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Simeon (Tomachinsky), Abbots Adrian (Pashin), Philip (Zhilyakov), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Archpriest Sergiy Zabelich, Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), hegumen Melety (Sokolov), priests Dimitry Baritsky, Valery Dukhanin, hieromonks Theodore (Yulaev), Cassian (Plosky), Damian (Voronov), Mikhey (Kopytov), ​​Boris (Zelyuchenko), Georgy (Pimenov), deacons Dimitry Maslov, Nikolai Goyuk, Hierodeacon Ioanniky (Pajan).

Chanting performed by a male choir conducted by V.V. Chuvilov and a mixed choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya.Chanting performed by a male choir conducted by V.V. Chuvilov and a mixed choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya. 

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