Bishop Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed Sunday services at the Intercession Academic Church

The current situation in the world makes Christian hearts mourn like they never do before. People in despair seek help, however, the modern world cannot give a person any solid foundations and reliable support. Only God can make impossible things possible and He is the Only One, Who we can ask for help and support.

This week, the Holy Church honors the image of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow». Looking at the icon, people ask for Her care, intercession and comfort for everyone, who suffers.

We are sinful and humble come to the Mother of God and kneel down to Her crying out in repentance from the depths of our souls: “Lady, please, help, take pity on us, be quick as we are perishing from our numerous sins! Do not let Your servants go empty-handed as You are our only hope!

On November 5, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officiated an All-night Vigil at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy.

Before the Kathisma, Nikita Parakhin, a student at the propaedeutic Master's course, delivered a sermon.

At the Canon, the Rector elevated Nikita Sorokoletov, a second-year postgraduate student, into a rank of subdeacon.

On Sunday, Bishop Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by the academic clergy.

At the litany, Bishop Kirill pronounces special petitions for our country and the Russian army.

At the Great Entrance, Bishop Kirill ordained Deacon Ilia Ulyanov, a second-year postgraduate student, into a presbyter. After the Eucharistic Canon, he ordained Subdeacon Nikita Sorokoletov, a second-year postgraduate student, into a deacon.

After the Sacrament verse, Dmitry Khalyapin, a fourth-year undergraduate student, delivered a sermon. In his speech, Dmitry turned to the exegesis of the Sunday Gospel passage and interpreted the parable of a rich man and Lazarus. Taking this pair, he showed that the moral state of a person does not depend on his financial state. The wealth can serve both for good and for bad. The sin of the rich man was in his tough heart that he did not show any compassion to Lazarus.

After the Liturgy, the clergy sang the glorification in front of the image of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow». Then, Bishop Kirill addressed an assembly with his archpastoral word.

Background information:

Clergy served at the All-night Vigil: the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill co-served by Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev), Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov), Archimandrite Hilarion (Farkovets), Archimandrite Luke (Golovkov), Abbot Philip (Zhilyakov), Abbot Lazar (Gnativ), Abbot Meletius (Sokolov ), hegumen Adrian (Pashin), hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), hieromonk Cassian (Plosky), hieromonk Procopius (Rudchenko), hieromonk Methodius (Agus), Priest Dimitry Baritsky, Priest Nikolai Cherepenin, Priest Pavel Gudilin, Deacon Nikolai Goyuk, Deacon Dimitry Maslov, Hierodeacon Job (Urum), Deacon Ilya Ulyanov, Deacon Roman Belashov.

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Bishop Kirill co-served by Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev), Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov), Archimandrite Hilarion (Farkovets), Archimandrite Luke (Golovkov), Abbot Philip (Zhilyakov), Abbot Melety (Sokolov), Abbot Adrian (Pashin), Hieromonk Barnabas (Losev), Hieromonk Theodore (Yulaev), Hieromonk Cassian (Plosky), Abbot Cyprian (Yashchenko), Hieromonk Boris (Zelyuchenko), Hieromonk George (Pimenov), Hieromonk Methodius (Agus), Priest Nikolai Cherepenin, Priest Pavel Gudilin, Deacon Nikolai Goyuk, Deacon Dimitry Maslov, Hierodeacon Job (Urum), Deacon Ilya Ulyanov, Deacon Roman Belashov.

Chanting performed by a male choir under the conduct of E.V. Borovinsky and a mixed choir led by K. A. Alekseeva.

MThA Press Office