The Academy celebrated the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos

On the fifth week of the Great Lent, the Holy Church celebrates the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, when the Akathist to the Mother of God includes to the procedure of a divine service.

On April 8, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed an evening service at the Intercession Academic Church with reading the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos.

At the Canon, Bishop Theodorite elevated Alexander Gapko, a second-year Master’s student, into a reader.

On April 9, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

During the divine service, Bishop Theodorite ordained Deacon Roman Navodkin, a first-year Master’s student, into a presbyter and subdeacon Alexander a deacon.

After the sacramental verse, Dmitry Vasiliev, a first-year Master's student, delivered a sermon:

Unfortunately, there is always a lot of grief and tears in the world. There are many separated, orphaned and widowed people around us. Life calls each of us to cry with those who weep, to sympathize the sufferers, to help the ones in need. If, for example, you give away your coat that you do not need any more, you can possibly warm a man. If you invite someone for tea and listen to him, you comfort him and relief his stress. Doing such things, we provide the divine power to this world. So, our souls soften and become kindred to the Heavenly Father and Mother.

Background information: 

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky and a mixed choir led by K.A. Tarelkina.

At the Divine Liturgy, chanting performed by a singing group led by a second- year Master’s student Roman Shilkin.