The Academy prayerfully celebrated the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

 On September 20 and 21, the Academy celebrated festive services on the Day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the biggest holidays of the Orthodox Church, because thanks to the Holy Virgin Mary ancient expectations of all mankind were fulfilled and the Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ, came into the world.

On the Eve, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed an All-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church. 

During the service, a 4th year undergraduate student Sergei Trizna delivered a sermon. He spoke about why do we glorify the Mother of God:

We glorify the Most Holy Virgin as the One, Who served more than all other people to make our salvation possible. Without Her birth, the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word would not have been completed, so Christ’s victory over our damnation and the death couldn’t have happened. We can obviously say that this holiday is the beginning of our birth for an eternal life.

At the stichera, Bishop Theodorite elevated Reader Alexander Lebedev to a rank of Subdeacon.

On September 21, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

At the Liturgy, the Rector tonsured 4th year undergraduate students Dmitry Leskov, Mikhail Vernigor, David Kitchatov, Vladimir Oleinik as Readers.

After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word. 

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite ordained Alexander Lebedev, a 1st-year Master's student, into a deacon.

Artyom Samsonov, a 4th year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.

At the end of the service, the clergy sang the glorification chant to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Background information:

Chanting performed by the first academic choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky and the second mixed choir led by Ksenya Tarelkina.

MThA Press Office

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