The Academy gathered for a common prayer on the last Sunday before Christmas

That Sunday marks the end of the calendar year. Time is rapidly running by, leaving the joyful and sad moments of life far behind. Everything around us is changing including people, circumstances, the environment, the whole world and ourselves. There is nothing hold on and to rely on, because it is unsteady and uncertain. A person finds himself deprived of a solid and reliable foundation. But Christ, Who is true Love is eternal (1 John 4:16).

The Gospel word that we heard on Sunday recalls the genealogy of Jesus Christ. God wants to be closer to us and He enters into our history and connects us with Himself for whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12 :50).

On Sunday before Christmas, the Rector, teachers and students of the Academy gathered at the home church of the Moscow Theological Academy for a common prayer.

The Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy concelebrated by the teachers and students in the holy orders. 

New-coming students, who entered the Academy this year from the countries of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Benin and Kenya), prayed during the service.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Kirill ordained Alexei Antonovich, a fourth year undergraduate student, into a deacon.

Before the Communion, Hieromonk Damian (Voronov) delivered a sermon. In his speech, the preacher spoke about how a Christian needs to prepare for Christmas with dignity. 

After the Liturgy, the Rector addressed an assembly with his archpastoral words. 

On December 30, teachers and students gathered for an All-night Vigil at the Intercession Church and offered prayers to the Lord and the Mother of God. The service was led by Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev).

Background information:

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrites Venedikt (Knyazev), Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Hieromonk Varnava (Losev), Abbot Meletius (Sokolov), Priest Dimitry Baritsky, Hieromonks Theodore (Yulaev), Cassian (Plosky), Micah (Kopytov), ​​Job (Urum), priests Vladislav Yurchenko, Daniil Lysenko, deacon Dmitry Maslov, hierodeacons Filaret (Zubov), Pimen (Shein), deacons Dionisy Makarov, Peter Pisarev, Sergius Konkov. 

Chanting performed by the second academic choir under the conduct of A.O. Leventsova. 

MThA Press Office