Sunday services at the Moscow Theological Academy
On November 6 and 7, Sunday services were held at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy.
Today the Holy Church honors the memory of the righteous Tabitha of Jope. She had the reputation of a virtuous and devout woman. One day she fell seriously ill and was close to death. However, at that time Apostle Peter was preaching not far from Jope, in Lydda, and resurrected her.
Tabitha’s friends sent messengers to St. Peter and asked him to heal a woman. When he arrived, righteous Tabitha was already dead. Then, apostle Peter prayed to the Lord and said: "Tabitha, get up!" and she rose from her bed absolutely healthy.
Today, the faithful affirm stumbling faith and joyous celebration of Jope, psalmody praise the faithful giver of life, the Son of God, seeing great miraculous deeds of a preeminent apostle, who commands and the dead rises from the grave, and the One, Who overthrew death, gives the Church people to get virtues. Come Christians, let us bring our prayers to blessed Tabitha and the Most Holy Trinity and pray to become sons of the Eternal Light, receive God's mercy, abide in Divine love and peace reigned in universe».
On November 6, Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov) led an All-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.
During the service, Dmitry Kuzeev, a 4th year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.
It was important for Apostle Thomas that the Lord was his God. This living faith, the thirst for a meeting with God personally gives us the right example of how to believe. We attend services, pray, but do we take these words close to our hearts and minds? Are we taking a spiritual example given by saints as our own? Is the Gospel becomes a way of our lives? Finally, are we looking forward to meeting with Christ?
We cannot move mountains. But each of us can strive to love God with all our soul and all our thoughts, believe in Him and confidently assert that Christ is “my Lord and my God”».
On November 7, Archimandrite Platon performed the Divine Liturgy co-served by the clergy of the academic church.
After the sacrament verse, Vadim Ivenkov, a 4th year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon.
Where is God? He is on the Cross. He is there, where people suffer. Therefore, all human suffering, all weakness is equal to participation in the personal Lord’s sufferings. Being followers and disciples of Christ, we must understand that weakness is sacred, and therefore our task is to devote ourselves to the weak. We must withstand violence, arbitrariness and pride of the world. We need to exalt the weak, because they have all the strength.
May the Risen Christ help us ! He humiliated Himself becoming a Human and underцуте all the way of suffering so that we can get an eternal life in His Heavenly Kingdom».
Background information:
Chanting performed by the second academic choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov and the first mixed choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya.
MThA Press Office