Services on the first day of the Lent officed at the Moscow Theological Academy

On Monday March 7, the first Lenten service were held at the Moscow Theological Academy. 

The period of Holy Lent coincides with springtime, when all living things wake up from a long winter rest. The Lent is also called the "spring of repentance", when the whole liturgical life helps a person to wake up from a sinful sleep and turn to the Lord.

On Monday morning, the service started with the Matins. According to tradition, the reading was done by the clergy of the Intercession Academic Church. The Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, read a canon. 

At the end of Vespers, Bishop Theodorite led the litany for the dead concelebrated by teachers and students in the priesthood.

In the evening, the Rector officed the Great Compline and read the Great Repentant Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

At the end of the service, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

Background information:

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