Metropolitan Hilarion: God expects us to be benevolent and compassionate to our brothers

On 19 February 2012, the Sunday of the Last Judgement, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Moscow Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” icon of the Mother of God together with the clerics of the church.

Before the service, Metropolitan Hilarion venerated the “Joy to All the Afflicted” icon, the main object of worship in the church.

The Moscow Synodal Choir conducted by Alexei Puzakov, an honoured artist of Russia, sang at the Liturgy. Among the sung hymns was “The Cherubic Hymn” by Johann Sebastian Bach in Metropolitan Hilarion’s arrangement.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered archpastoral homily, in which he eloquently spoke of the Last Judgement. “God expects us to be benevolent and compassionate to our brothers,” he underscored and reminded the worshippers that the Last Judgement has begun on earth in the life of all people who must make a moral choice. “The Lord calls us to do good. He has brought us to Church to be saved and to save the others not by words, but by rendering help to them when they need it mostly.”