The MThA Rector celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Alexander of Neva at the military unit in Sovkhoz village

On October 1, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed an All-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

Before the Kathismaa, Sergey Konoval, a first-year Master's student, delivered a sermon based on the Gospel passage of the day. 

On October 2, Bishop Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the home church of St. Prince Alexander of Neva at the military unit in Sovkhoz village, Sergiev Posad District.

The clergy of the Moscow Theological Academy co-served Bishop Kirill.

After the service, Bishop Kirill addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word:

By the grace of God, after a rather long break, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy here at the church of St. Alexander of Neva. Recently, we honored St. Prince Alexander, who is a patron saint of soldiers. The military unit is not far from the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Lavra. It is very symbolic, because St. Sergius considers to be another patron saint, who offered up his prayers for the Russian army and all the people to God during the days of the Tatar-Mongol invasion.

Nowadays, the number of war victims is raising and many people feel confused and lost. Therefore, the main task both for the clergy and military authorities is to support the confused, to spiritually rally the defenders of the Motherland. The information war especially requires spiritual composure and sobriety, and our victory in it is no less necessary than on the battlefield.

During the Great Patriotic War, the atheistic authorities asked the Church for her prayers. His Holiness the Patriarch recently spoke about the need for spiritual mobilization and spiritual concentration of the forces in our society.

In Soviet times, there was an officer, who during the war in Afghanistan carried a cross in his party card. What’s more, he encouraged his soldiers and even sometimes gave them spiritual guidance..

Another remarkable incident happened during the Great Patriotic War, because in crucial situations people tend to strengthen their faith and pray more. In the middle of a battle, a young nurse was terrified. Her older colleague said: “We must pray! Why don’t you pray?”. “I don’t know a single prayer!”, she said. 

- Well, do you know "Our Father"?

The young girl didn’t, but she thought that it was a prayer that consisted only of two words “Our Father”. She started to repeat them helping the wounded. The prayer touched the depths of her heart. The injured soldiers even noticed the warmth that came from the bandage she put.

After the war, while in the temple, she kept on repeating those words. When someone asked her why didn’t she continue her prayer, she was really surprised that there were other words. Thus, there are amazing laws, which rule a spiritual life. Sometimes people, being at completely different level of the spiritual growth, go through some similar stages. The spiritual life of a Christian, according to the teachings of the Holy Fathers, resembles a kind of spiral movement. That nurse did not read the Gospel, did not know the basics of faith, but she went through the whole war with the words “Our Father” on her lips.

We prayerfully wish that the current military confrontation ended soon. However, it is important that we use the time for the good of our souls, be able to help and receive great spiritual benefits. Let the Lord lead us and St. Sergius support us with his prayers. Thank you all for your service. 

Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev) celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy co-served by the academic clergy.

After the communion verse, Artyom Bychkov, a first year Master's student, delivered a sermon based on the Gospel and the Apostol of the day. Each passage is a summon to be co-workers of Christ and heralds of the Good news. 

Background information:

Clergy served at the All-night vigil: Bishop Kirill, Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev), Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Farkovets), Archimandrite Luke (Golovkov), Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky), Abbot Lazar (Gnativ), Abbot Philip (Zhilyakov), Hegumen Gerasim (Dyachkov), Hegumen Melety (Sokolov), Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), Hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), Hieromonk Thaddeus (Pryadun), Priest Valery Dukhanin, Hieromonk Cassian (Plosky), Priest Andrey Yakubov, Hieromonk John (Merzlyakov), Hieromonk Methodius (Agus), Deacon Dmitry Maslov, Deacon Nikolai Goyuk.

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Prince Alexander of Neva: Bishop Kirill, Hieromonk Varnava (Losev), Hieromonk Thaddeus (Pryadun), Hieromonk Damian (Voronov), Deacon Dmitry Maslov.

Chanting at the Liturgy performed by the MThA choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky.

Clergy served at the Liturgy in the Intercession Church: Archimandrite Venedikt, Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Farkovets), Archimandrite Luke (Golovkov), Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky), Abbot Lazar (Gnativ), Abbot Philip (Zhilyakov), Abbot Gerasim (Dyachkov), Hegumen Melety (Sokolov), Hegumen Cyprian (Yashchenko), Hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), Priest Valery Dukhanin, Hieromonk Cassian (Plosky), Priest Andrey Yakubov, Hieromonk John (Merzlyakov), Hieromonk Methodius (Agus), Hierodeacon Theodosius (Makarov), Deacon Nikolay Goyuk. 

Chanting at the academic church performed by two choirs under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov and K.A. Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office

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