Sunday services on the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
On February 21, the Church recalls Christ’s parable about two men, who went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
In his prayer, the Pharisee thanked God for being different from other people, and compared himself haughtily to the «sinful» publican. In his turn 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!» Addressing His disciples, Christ said that this last one was closer to God than the Pharisee’s.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted».
So, the Savior commands us to be like the publican, who stands before God in humility and meekness.
On February 20, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite celebrated an all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.
Before the reading of Kathisma, a third-year student Sergei Gorbunov delivered a sermon:
What is humility? According to the holy fathers, humility is the realization of our own sinfulness. When a person realizes that he has not done anything good and thinks low about himself. And even all good that he can do, he does tanks to God’s grace. If pride is a root of all passions, then humility is a mother of all virtues. According to the words of St. John the Climacus, humility elevates a person and paves the easiest way for salvation. The best example of humility is our Lord Jesus Christ, Who came on earth not as a king or a philosopher, but as a Baby Who was born on a quiet night in a stable. The life of the Lord was also humble and imperceptible. God acts quietly and true followers of Christ, saints and the righteous, have the same quality».
Hence the first troparion of repentance and a chant «Open us doors of repentance» sung in churches.
During the reading of the canon, Bishop Theodorite ordained Reader Konstantin Akimov into a subdeacon, a second-year Master student of Sretensky Theological Seminary.
On February 21, Bishop Theodorite of Zvenigorod performed the Sunday Liturgy in an academic church.
During the service, Bishop Theodorite tonsured 4th-year students Sergei Valov, Ioann Vyalkov and Simeon Laptev as Readers.
After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.
At the end of the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Theodorite ordained Subdeacon Constantine into a deacon.
Before the Communion, Yakov Evdokimov, a third-year Bachelor student of the Moscow Theological Academy, delivered a sermon. He urged believers to follow an example of the publican and follow their earthly path in humility:
И не будем превозносить себя над теми людьми, которые не ходят в Церковь, которые не постятся и не молятся. Не будем считать себя праведнее других”.
Instead, let us recognize ourselves as the most sinful and ask the Lord for salvation».
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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