The Academy honored the memory of Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
On Monday March 22, the Holy Church honors the memory of forty Martyrs of Sebastia. Today, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and ordained a student of the Academy into the rank of deacon.
He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will come to life. Dare and do not be afraid, as you will receive the imperishable crowns».
Forty martyrs were Roman solders in Sebastia, Cappadocia. In 313, Constantine the Great issued a decree that allowed Christians to openly practice their faith. However, his co-emperor Licinius was pagan and against Christian religion especially among his solders.
In the Armenian city Sebastia, there was a victorious army of forty Cappadocians. They were all Christians, but their commander Agricola was a zealous pagan who ordered to bring sacrifice to pagan deities. After their refusal to take part in heathenism Sebastian soldiers were condemned and imprisoned.
After a while, the torturers took the soldiers to the lake, where they were undressed and put into the icy water. There was bathhouse nearby tempting them to break their will, betray Christ and worship pagan gods. Their plan almost succeeded as one of the soldiers could not stand the torment any longer and ran for the bathhouse. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he fell dead. One of the guards, Aglai, observing their deed all night saw crowns, which shone over their heads. There were 39 of them according to the number of confessors and one was vacant. Then Aglai woke up other guards and confessing himself to be Christian joined the martyrs.
The Roman soldiers seeing that nothing could break martyrs’ faith broke their legs and burned their bodies.
Reveres martyrs, forty soldiers of Christ, firmly armed with their faith, you had passed through fire and water and became fellow citizens of angels. Pray with them to Christ for all who glorify your faith. Glory to the One who gave you the strength, glory to the One who crowned you, glory to the One who heals everyone through you».
On March 22, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Intercession Church together with teachers and students in the priesthood.
During the reading of the Pictorial, Bishop Theodorite elevated a 4th year student Ioann Shumsky into the rank of a subdeacon and at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts ordained him into a deacon.
Hegumen Melety (Sokolov) gave a sermon, in which he warned believers of spiritual selfishness:
We should fast with the whole Church, as no one can reach the salvation alone. Spiritual egoism leads a person to the state when he sees himself righteous and virtuous. As a result, he begins to blame his neighbor who does not fast. Therefore, we fast with the whole Church in order to get rid of spiritual selfishness. So, we fast like everyone else and remember that we do not differ from others».
Background information:
Chanting performed by a male choir conducted by V.V. Chuvilov and the female choir led by K.A. Alekseeva.
MThA Press Office
