Sunday services at the Academy
On the first Sunday after Christmas, the Holy Church honors the memory of Joseph the Betrothed, King David and St. James, the brother of the Lord. They protected the Divine Infant from the very beginning of His earthly journey. They were the ones through whom God fulfilled His promise. In the Old Testament, the Lord prepared people for the coming of the Messiah and revealed the secret of the Incarnation through His prophets.
Divine David is fulfilled this day, while Joseph and Jacob praising. Having accepted the crown by kinship with Christ, they rejoice, sing and cry to the indescribably Born One: “Merciful, save those who honor you!”
On January 9, Archimandrite Hilarion (Forkavets) together with the academic clergy led the all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church.
On January 10, Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in a seminary church in honor of the holy great martyrs Barbara, Anastasia and martyr Akilina.
Archimandrite Benedict (Knyazev) led the Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church.
After the sacrament verse, Hegumen Meletiy (Sokolov) delivered a sermon in which he spoke about the life of saints and the path to Heavenly Jerusalem:
Saint Joseph the Betrothed is an example of moral perfection. His faith in the Born Lord, Crucified on the Cross and Risen is the first step on the way to Heavenly Jerusalem. We have to follow his example as the faith helps us to accept the gifts of Christ's sacrifice. Nobody who does not accept these Gifts or does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The second step is repentance. We must see our own sins, not our neighbors’ ones, and repent. The third step is to be reborn by the Holy Spirit. To reach it, we have to work hard and endure a lot for the love of Christ. The Lord says: "The one who keeps my commandments loves me." This willingness to die to the world in order to be alive for Christ is that determination to keep His commandments. It requires tremendous work, patience, even ascetic deeds. Who would we become if we did not follow the commandments? Simply, we would resemble senseless animals. On this difficult path, we must also arm ourselves with the grace of the Holy Spirit and remember that even if the path is hard, the gift awaiting in Heavenly Jerusalem is not comparable to the hardships of this earthly life. "
The service ended with festive Christmas chants.
Background information:
Chanting an the Intercession Church performed by a male choir under the conduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov); an the Varvara Church by a female choir led by a third-year student Elena Biletskaya.
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