Academy celebrated the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

On November 4, the Holy Church established a celebration in honour of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. This day commemorates the liberation of Moscow Kingdom in 1612 when Russian troops took Kitai-Gorod and then sent from the Polish invaders away from the Kremlin. This victory was preceded by a three-day fasting and an intense prayer to the Mother of God in front of Her Kazan image.

Zealous intercessor, Mother of the Saviour, pray for Thy Son Christ, our God, and ask for all to be saved, in Thy sovereign protection we come...»

Уже в первых словах тропаря звучит уверенность в заступничестве и скором ответе Царицы Небесной всем просящим и молящимся. И как в смутные, тяжелые времена, так и поныне Пресвятая Богородица являет Свою помощь и защиту верующим.

The text of a troparion shows our confidence in the intercession and help which the Mother of God gives us as an answer to our prayers in troubled and difficult times.

On November 3 and 4, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, together with the academic clergy performed festive services at the Intercession Academic Church.

At the Liturgy, after reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodorite addressed the worshipers with an archpastoral word.

After the great entrance, the MThA Rector Bishop Theodorite ordained Deacon Yaroslav Gerashchenko, a first-year postgraduate student, into a priest. After the Eucharistic Canon, he ordained Eugene Fadeev, a third-year Bachelor student, into a deacon.

Before the Holy Communion, Abbot Melety (Sokolov) gave a sermon. He said that the Mother of God became the reason of our salvation, because it was She who opened the paradise gates to us. Father Melety explained how we should pray to the Most Holy Theotokos:

She can restore our health and good mood as well as liberate us from enemies, but the most important thing is that we have to ask Her to give us good thoughts. So, they are our thoughts that always have to direct us towards good, towards fulfilling the commandments, and for good deeds».

По заамвонной молитве епископ Феодорит вместе со служащими совершил славление Пресвятой Богородице. Хоры в сопровождении народа пропели тропарь, кондак и величание празднику.

In the end, Bishop Theodorite accompanied by the clergy performed the glorification of the Most Holy Theotokos and greeted the newly ordained Priest Yaroslav and Deacon Eugene on accepting the grace of the priesthood.

Also, Bishop Theodorite gave awards to the Moscow Theological Academy employees:

• Natalya Alekseevna Koltsova, a chief waiter of a teachers’ dining room, awarded with the Russian Orthodox Church Order of St. Euphrosyne the Grand Duchess of Moscow, 3rd degree in consideration of her labor and in connection with the 60th anniversary;
• Antonina Nikolaevna Monastyrskaya, Teacher of the Chorister’s faculty at the Moscow Theological Academy, awarded with the of the Russian Orthodox Church medal of St. Euphrosyne the Grand Duchess of Moscow in recognition of her hard work in a field of theological education and in connection with the 50th anniversary;
• Larisa Valerievna Leonova, the MThA artist-restorer, awarded with the Russian Orthodox Church medal "For Labor and Merit" in consideration of her labors for the benefit of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) and V.V. Chuvilov as well as a female choir led by S.P. Borovinskaya.

MThA Press Office

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