Sunday services on a Week of Zacchaeus

A Week of Zacchaeus is the last Sunday before the preparation for the Great Lent.

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Luke tells about a chief of tax collectors Zacchaeus.

This short man longed to meet Messiah with all his heart. Despite all the mockery, he had to climb a tree to make a step towards the Lord. In response to his ardent desire, Jesus turned to him Himself and entered Zacchaeus’s house. The tax collector gladly accepted the Savior, promised to give half of his property to the poor and compensate the damage to the ones whom he had offended. From that time, he became a faithful disciple of Christ.

On February 13, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite officed an all-night vigil at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

On February 14, Bishop Theodorite celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

During the antiphons singing, Bishop Theodorite tonsured a third-year graduate student Vladimir Shchipanov, a third-year undergraduate student Ivan Penkov and a fourth-year undergraduate student of the Nikolo-Ugreshskaya Theological Seminary Yevgeny Yarygin as readers. Then he elevated a reader Eugene to the rank of subdeacon.

After reading the Holy Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Theodorite ordained Subdeacon Eugene into a deacon.

Before the Communion, a first-year Master’s student Alexander Terentyev delivered a sermon.

At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Theodorite congratulated deacon Eugene on accepting the priesthood dignity.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir led by Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by Ksenia Alekseeva.

MThA Press Office

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