The Academy officed funeral services of the Parental Saturday

The second preparatory week for the Great Lent is also called the "Week of the Prodigal Son". On Saturday, known as the Universal Parental Saturday, the Holy Church prays for all the departed Orthodox Christians.

"Oh, Christ give rest to the souls of Thy servant with all saints at the place, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no groaning, but an everlasting life."

On February 25, Bishop Theodorite officed the Parastasis at the Intercession Academic Church with reading the 17th kathisma. 

On February 26, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a memorial service at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy.

After singing the sacrament verse, Dmitry Kuzeev, a 4th year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon:

No matter how terrible the death is, no matter how strong the pain of loss is, the Church calls us to remember that we are alive with God. We truly believe that Christ is resurrected and that we do the same on the Day of Judgment. People have always wondered if there is a resurrection of the dead. Apostle Paul answers that “if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty“. Our earthly life is a path towards the Lord, the Source of Life, the Giver of all Good. If a person is united with God, then he will live forever. And when someone is separated from God, hi will wither and die. Only if we strive for God with all our hearts, we will gain an eternal life..

Background information:

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

Chanting at the Divine Liturgy performed by a singing group led by undergraduate student Nikita Pakhomov. 

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