The Moscow Theological Academy celebrated the Exaltation of the Lord's Cross
On September 27, the Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
In 326, the St. Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles went to Jerusalem, where she found many places associated with the Savior’s life. However, her biggest discovery was the Life-giving Cross of the Lord. Empress Helen handed it over to Patriarch of Jerusalem Macarius and he raised It high for all the Christians to observe. They venerated the Cross shouting loudly "Lord, have mercy on us." That day, many people were healed and received the Holy Baptism.
On September 26, on the holiday eve, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed a festive All-night vigil with a rite of the Exaltation of the Cross at the Intercession Academic Church.
Before the service, clerics of the academic church decorated the Cross with flowers and put it in the middle of the church.
During the evening service, Bishop Theodorite elevated Reader Ioann Kubasov, a student of a preliminary Master's course, to a rank of Subdeacon.
The polyeleos was performed at the altar.
After singing of the Great Doxology, Bishop Theodorite with the clergy carried the Cross to the middle of the church.
After that, Bishop Theodorite performed a rite of the Exaltation of the Cross. He overshadowed four sides of the world, while the choir was singing "Lord, have mercy on us".
On the stichera, the believers approached the Cross for an anointment with consecrated oil.
On September 27, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.
At the antiphons, Bishop Theodorite tonsured 4th-year undergraduate students Kirill Krivonogov, Nikita Sidelnikov, Ilya Utkin, Yakov Evdokimov as Readers.
After reading the Gospel, the Rector addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.
During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite ordained Rodion Cheban and Ioann Kubasov into deacons.
After singing the sacrament verse, Vasily Smirnov, a 4th year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon, in which he spoke about the power of the Cross:
The Cross was an instrument for the salvation of all mankind. It obviously gave the Christians something fulfilling the words of Christian prayers that St. Apostle Paul testified in his preaching. Thanks to the Cross, the preaching itself gains a mystical power that acts gracefully. So, this word in an inexplicable way is able to transform a Christian heart, to fill a man with a spiritual wisdom, to make his heart tender, to bring him closer to God. "
Background information:
Chanting performed by a second academic choir under the conduct of V.V. Chuvilov and a first mixed choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya.
MThA Press Office
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