“Rejoice, the Life-Giving Cross”. The Academy celebrated the third Sunday of the Great Lent

In the middle of fasting they carry out the Cross of the Lord, which was an instrument of painful and shameful death. What can a person say to describe this Sacrifice? “I dare not ask for a cross or consolation, but I can only stand before You,” prays St. Philaret of Moscow. 

The Church exclaims: “Rejoice, the Life-Giving Cross, invincible victory of piety, a heavenly door, the eternal delight!” The Church also teaches us to be grateful in any place of sorrow. Like a seed planted in the ground, our sorrow transforms into joy. This joy is given by God Himself: if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John.12:32). 

Lord, Your Cross is our glory, and we boast of it! There is no fear, if you are our hope. You allow us to give thanks, praises and glorification! You have given us the gift of a word, so we can speak quietly and humbly breaking the serenity of the Great Lent! Christ, teach us to pray and be silent as You wish. 

The Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill officiated an All-Night Vigil at the Inrtercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy.

Before the Kathisma, Sergei Deykun, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon:

The Lord spread His hands on the cross to unite as He says: if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John.12:32). It means that when I am nailed to the Cross, then everyone will believe in Me. So, the Cross of Christ is a call to us from the Lord».

At the end of an evening service, the rite of carrying out the Cross was performed. It meant to recall the feat of the Selfsacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and to strengthen our faith and patience in fasting. 

On March 19, Bishop Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy co-served by the academic clergy at the Intercession Church. 

At the antiphons, the Rector tonsured third-year undergraduate students Matvey Tvorogov, Vladimir Suprun, Alexey Vechkanov and Ruslan (Alexey) Efremov as Readers. 

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Kirill ordained Dmitry Konov, a first-year Master's student, into a deacon. 

Before the communion, Vladimir Streblyachenko, a second-year Master's student, delivered a sermon. He spoke about the significance of the Cross of Christ in a Christian life. The Cross of the Lord is a source of strength. It comforts everyone, who believes in Christ.

At the end, Bishop Kirill addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word. 

Background information:

Clergy served at the all-night vigil: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrites Venedikt (Knyazev), Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Hegumens Adrian (Pashin), Philip (Zhilyakov), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), hegumen Melety (Sokolov), hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), priests Dimitri Baritsky, Valery Dukhanin, hieromonks Cassian (Plosky), Boris (Zelyuchenko), Procopius (Rudchenko), Georgy (Pimenov), deacons Dimitri Maslov, Nikolai Goyuk, Miodrag Radovanovich. 

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrites Venedikt (Knyazev), Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Hegumens Adrian (Pashin), Philip (Zhilyakov), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), hegumen Melety (Sokolov), hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), priests Dimitry Baritsky, Valery Dukhanin, hieromonks Cassian (Plosky), Boris (Zelyuchenko), Prokopy (Rudchenko), Georgy (Pimenov), deacons Dimitri Maslov, Nikolai Goyuk, Miodrag Radovanovich, Dimitri Konov. 

Chanting performed by a male choir conducted by V.V. Chuvilov and a mixed choir led by K.A. Alekseeva. 

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