On the Commemoration Day of St. Mary of Egypt, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy celebrates the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Church of Christ the Saviour

On April 14, 2006, the Commemoration Day of St. Mary of Egypt, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, assisted by Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Church of Christ the Saviour.

During the Lesser Entrance, Rev. Geogriy Martynov, Church of Christ the Saviour, and Rev. Nikolay Ozolin, rector of the Patriarchal Church Representation of the Holy Transfiguration in the Kizhi Island, were elevated to the rank of archpriest in recognition of their zealous service and pastoral care.

Rev. Andrey Ovchinnikov and Rev. Maxim Shevtsov of the Church of Christ the Saviour were granted the right to wear a pectoral cross in recognition of their zealous service of the Church of God and on the occasion of the Holy Pascha.

After the service, His Holiness addressed the congregation, saying in particular, “We thank the Lord for His help to us in completing the Holy Forty Days. Tomorrow is the eve of the Lord’s Entry to Jerusalem. Tomorrow we will remember the resurrection of Lazarus. The Passion Week will begin on Monday and we will remember the earthly feat of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

For forty days, the Church prepared us for proper entry in the Passion Week, so that we may become aware of His passions and His saving feat for the salvation of the world. It is only when we become aware of the greatness of this feat, the Lord will grant us a special joy on the radiant day of the Pascha of Christ, the great day of meeting the Risen Lord and Saviour’.

He also reminded the congregation of the prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian read during Lent, in which ‘we ask the Lord to help us see our sins’.

In conclusion, His Holiness thanked all for common prayer and congratulated the communicants.