The Academy held divine services of the first preparatory week before the Great Lent

On February 4 and 5, the Academy held divine services of the first preparatory week before the Great Lent and prayerfully commemorated the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church suffered at the time of persecution for the Christ’s faith.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, «God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. (Luke.18:11) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, «God, be merciful to me a sinner! (Luke.18:13).

Whose prayer pleases God? 

A person who professes the Orthodox faith, participates in the Sacraments of the Church sometimes can forget about contrition of the heart. The Lord reminds us: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." As soon as a Christian admits the idea that he is better than others, he immediately falls into spiritual delusion, which is what the devil is looking for.

In the image of a publican despised by all, the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the simplest but the most effective guide to salvation, which is the sincere repentance. 

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, which is a first preparatory week before the Great Lent, after Psalm 50 we hear a chant “Open doors of repentance, the Giver of Life”. Orthodox Christians is summoned to purify their souls, renounce the affairs of this world and prepare to meet the Savior risen from the dead. 

The New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia stand at the throne the Lord. They lived not so long ago and in prays we ask them for intercession. 

Saints pray for us and through an example of their pious lives call us to repentance.

On February 4 and 5, Sunday services of the first preparatory week before the Great Lent were held at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy. That Sunday was a commemorative day of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church. 

Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev) officiated the All-Night Vigil. After the Kathismas, Stefan Bukurov, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.

On February 5, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy co-served by the academic clergy. 

At the Antiphons, Bishop Kirill tonsured third-year undergraduate students Mikhail Lvov, Vladimir Inshakov, Sergey Konkov and Daniil Kocheshkov as Readers.

At the funeral litany, prayers were raised for the repose of all the dead who suffered at the time of persecution for Christ’s faith.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Rector ordained Deacon Vyacheslav Masin, a second-year postgraduate student, into a priest.

After the Sacrament verse, Andrey Berchuk, a first-year Master’s student, delivered a sermon.  

After the dismissal, Bishop Kirill and the academic clergy sang the glorification with a prayer to the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church. 

At the end of the divine service, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill addressed the assembly with his archpastoral word. In the sermon he gave an example of repentance of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church

Background information:

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Clergy served at the All-night Vigil Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev) co-served by: Archimandrites Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), hegumens Philip (Zhilyakov), Adrian (Pashin), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Meletius (Sokolov), hieromonks Barnabas (Losev), Theodore (Yulaev), Cassian ( Plosky), Damian (Voronov), Priest Valery Dukhanin, Deacons Dimitry Maslov, Nikolai Goyuk, Vyacheslav Masin, Alexander Vivtonenko, Boris Sandar, Leonid Peven, Hierodeacon Job (Urum).

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrites Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Abbots Philip (Zhilyakov), Adrian (Pashin), Gerasim (Dyachkov), Melety (Sokolov), Hieromonks Barnabas (Losev), Feodor (Yulaev), Cassian (Plosky), Boris (Zelyuchenko), Georgy (Pimenov), Serapion (Zalesny), Mikhey (Kopytov), ​​Priests Dimitry Baritsky, Valery Dukhanin, Vyacheslav Masin, Deacons Dimitry Maslov, Nikolay Goyuk, Alexander Vivtonenko, Leonid Peven, Hierodeacon Job (Urum).

Chanting performed by the second academic choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov and the second mixed choir led by K.A. Alekseeva.

MThA Press Office