Carrying out the Shroud of Christ at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy
Then Jesus said to them, «All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: «I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered (Matt. 26:31). And almost all of His disciples left their Master. So, no one left to take His body off the Cross to bury it. However, there was someone who was not called to be an apostle, but was only a secret disciple.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus».
Joseph was able to overcome his fear as he understood all possible consequences of his deed. Nevertheless, he went to Pilate and asked for Christ’s Body, Whom he loved and trusted with all his heart.
The carrying out the Shroud takes place on Great Friday and the Vespers on Great Saturday.
At 3 p.m. the Rector, teachers, students and parishioners of the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy gathered like noble Joseph to commemorate last moments of Christ’s earthly life.
The Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite together with teachers and students in the priesthood officed an evening service with the reading of "The Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos" canon and the removal of the Shroud of Christ.
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 Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and a female choir led by K.A. Alekseeva.
MThA Press Office
