"In the Temple of God, the Virgin comes and foretells Christ to everyone": the Academy solemnly celebrated the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple
Today the Holy Church celebrates the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Jerusalem Temple.
Righteous Joachim and Anna brought the Virgin Mary to the Jerusalem temple when she was three years old. Having done this, the parents fulfilled the promise made to God and dedicated their child to Him. A very little girl independently went up the staircase led to the temple. At the top, she was met by a high priest, who, by God's order, led her into the Holy of Holies, which was restricted even for the clergy. From that very day, the Most Holy Theotokos waited to become the repository of the Savior of the world.
“This is the grace of God's prefiguration and the preaching of men’s salvation: in the temple of God, the Virgin clearly appears and she foretells Christ to everyone. She is the one and we will cry out loudly: Rejoice, the fulfillment of the Savior’s deed”.“This is the preaching of God's grace and preaching of salvation for men: the Virgin enters the Temple of God and foretells Christ to everyone. So, let’s cry to the One: Rejoice, watching the fulfillment of the Creator’s words”.
On the evening of December 3, Bishop Theodorite of Zvenigorod celebrated an all-night vigil co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood. From this day, the liturgical preparation for the Christ’s Nativity begins. For the first time parishioners hear a Christmas song: "Christ is born, praise, watch Christ coming from heaven."
On December 4, Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy. After reading the Gospel, he addressed the worshipers with an archpastoral word.
After the singing of the Cherubic song, Bishop Theodorite ordained Deacon Ilia Serzhenko, student of the propaedeutic course, into a priest.
Before the Communion, Hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev) gave a sermon, in which explained the meaning of the holiday and encouraged to maintain a spiritual life so Christ will be able to enter the heart of a person.
Отец Феодор рассказал прихожанам о смысле сегодняшнего праздника и призвал верующих совершать духовный подвиг, которым в сердце каждого человека входит Христос.
“The Holy Virgin, lifting the curtain of the temple, was preparing to become the Mother of Christ. So does every Christian soul, which by spiritual exploit enters the veil, and, according to ancient ascetics, makes a room for Christ to be mysteriously born. Let us also come to our holy temple, which is Heaven on earth, the only place where we gaze with an open face at the Glory of God, where our chants are combined with the exultation of invisible angels, where we ask Heavenly Father with much boldness and receive what we ask for. Where there are no longer images of heavenly things, as in the Old Testament temple, but real heavenly things. We feel and taste the Body and Blood of the incarnate Word. Here we are preparing to become citizens of New Jerusalem, where there will no longer be a temple, for its temple will be the Lord Himself, Almighty and Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ. "
At the end of the service, the clergy of the Intercession Church sang a troparion to the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.
Background information:
Chanting performed by a male choir led by Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by Ksenia Alekseeva.
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MThA Press Office