The Academy celebrated the Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas. It is time when we chant and read prophecies about the Divine Infant coming to the world. The Church glorifies the Creator and the Savior of all mankind, and very soon the Christians will rejoice and say:

Today the Virgin inexpressibly gives birth to the Eternal Word in the cave. Rejoice, the universe, having received this news, glorify with Angels and shepherds welcoming the One who wants to appear - the Young Child, the Eternal God».

On January 5, Hieromonk Procopius (Rudchenko) officed the Vespers, the Canon and the Matins on the Christmas Eve. Hieromonk Vyacheslav (Sorokin), Vice-rector for educational work of the Moscow Theological Academy, read the Canon "Wave of the Sea".

On January 6, at the morning service, the clergy of the Intercession Academic Church followed the Royal Hours.

At the end, Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov) led the Vespers and performed the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

After singing the sacrament verse, Peter Trophimov, a student of the propaedeutic Master's course, delivered a sermon:

What power does the Incarnated Word give us? According to St. John: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Also, we have to follow the commandment: “Walk as children of light”(Eph. 5: 8). It is more important to be clothed in virtues than into the royal porphyry. To clothe us in the garments of immortality, the Lord appeared in a wretched veil. Let us remember that all the baptized in Christ wear Him. Let us remember His eternal glory and infinite humility, let us remember how we fell and Who raised us as one of the prophet’s books says: «It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer,» says the LORD; «I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, «You are My people!́ And they shall say, «You are my God!» (cf. Hos. 2: 21-23)».

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov.

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