The Academy performed services of the Week of the Cross
The Week of the Cross was established on the third Sunday of the Great Lent to remember sufferings of the Savior and the Cross.
Nowadays, the angelic hosts accompany the venerable Tree, reverently surrounding it and calling all the faithful to worship. Come, then, illuminated by fasting, let us fall in front of it with joy and fear, faithfully crying out: "Rejoice, precious Cross, affirmation of peace!»
During an all-night vigil, the priesthood solemnly brings the Life-giving Cross of the Lord out to the middle of the church as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice as well as His glorious Resurrection. After that, believers kneel down singing the troparion "We bow to Thy Cross, O Lord, and we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection." Also this hymn sung at the Divine Liturgy.
The Cross of the Lord is the main military banner for all Christians. Its sight frightens devils and evil spirits and make them tremble.
Lord, Thou hast given us a weapon against the devil, Thy cross makes it tremble not being able to endure to look at Its power; it raises the dead and abolishes death; so we worship Thy burial and Resurrection».
On April 3, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite officed an all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.
Before the Kathisma, Nikita Zakharov, a third-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon, in which he spoke about the power of the Cross and its significance in our salvation.
The life-giving Cross of the Lord is always with Christians. We wear it on our chests, we make the sign of the cross while praying, the clergy gives blessing by it. At the service we heard solemn prayers addressing the Cross and, after a while, there is a cross in the middle of the temple for people to venerate. When we worship the Cross, we worship sufferings of the Son of God. Through them, Christ manifested His great love for a man, so everyone can reach the Kingdom of Heaven. Those painful sufferings opened the way to Resurrection and victory over death.
Carrying the cross is essential for our spiritual development. When a person accepts his misfortunes as a cross for salvation, he will get strength to change his life for the better and transforms a life around him. He is determined to die for a sinful life and be resurrected to a righteous one».
During the reading of the canon, Bishop Theodorite elevated a first-year Master student Reader Andrey Voronko to the rank of a subdeacon.
On April 4, the Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at the Intercession Church, co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.
After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.
After singing the Cherubims’ song, Bishop Theodorite ordained Deacon Artemy Derizemlya, a second-year Master student, into a presbyter.
At the end of the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Theodorite ordained Subdeacon Andrei Voronko into a deacon.
Background information:
Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya.
MThA Press Office
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