Festive Services of the Forefeast of the Lord's Baptism Held at the Academy

The Lord laid the water element as the foundation of the universe and living nature. Water is one of the vital elements, without which no creature can exist or function.

The human organism itself carries the water element within. But the sin of the first-formed Adam poisons human nature and sows a corrupting seed in the heart.

The Son of God becomes incarnate and becomes the new Adam, free from sin. He is the One who can heal human nature, fill it with grace, and restore it to its primordial grandeur.

In these days, the Lord comes to the River Jordan, symbolizing the world's waters, to sanctify the water element and impart to it creative and healing power. Today, it is not the water that washes the Lord Jesus, but the Lord who washes the waters of the world river with streams of Divine grace. Adam, and in his person all humanity, is freed from the bonds of sin and receives the pledge of a new, perfect life.

Today's Sunday is preparatory to the Feast of the Lord's Baptism, when the Church recalls the wondrous and glorious event that occurred more than two thousand years ago at the River Jordan, when God freed humanity.

On the morning of January 18, Sunday, the academic community offered prayer to the Lord at the Divine Liturgy and celebrated the Holy Eucharist. The service was led by Archimandrite Venidikt (Knyazev).

After the Communion verse, a sermon was delivered by fourth-year undergraduate student Priest Tikhon Belokrylov.

After the Liturgy, the clergy performed the Great Vespers of the Feast of the Lord's Baptism with the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters. The rite was led by Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov). At the conclusion of the rite, the clergy sprinkled the church and the worshippers with the Great Aghiasma. 

On the eve of the feast day, on the evening of January 17, faculty and students prayed at the Sunday All-Night Vigil. The service was led by Archimandrite Platon. 

Background information:

The liturgical hymns were performed by mixed choirs under the direction of K.A. Bukurova and A.A. Boyarchuk.

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