On September 1, 2020, is the feast of the Donskaya icon of the Mother of God; his Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia led the divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Donskoy monastery in Moscow, followed by the ordination of Archimandrite Pitirim (Dondenko) as Bishop of Jakarta, vicar of the diocese of Singapore.
September 1 is also the Day of knowledge, new school year day. On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church performs prayers for teachers and students.
Upon arrival at the Cathedral, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill bowed to the miraculous Donskaya icon of the Mother of God, which was brought to this monastery from The state Tretyakov gallery for this holiday.
At the Liturgy among the concelebrating hierarchs were: Metropolitan of Singapore and South-East Asia Sergiy, the Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia; Metropolitan of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut Paul, managing the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese; Metropolitan Korsunsky Anthony, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe; Archbishop Theophan of Korea; Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), Secretary of the diocese of Thailand, rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bangkok and other hierarchs, clergy and monastics.
The choir of the Donskoy monastery (Regent — P. V. Muntyan) performed the liturgical chants.
The service was attended by: Chairman of Committee on development of civil society, public and religious associations of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergey Gavrilov; chargé d’affaires of the Republic of Indonesia in the Russian Federation Azis Nurvahudi; head of Department of national policy and interregional relations of the city of Moscow V. I. Suchkov; the head of the Donskoy district of Moscow D. I. Sokolov.
Among those who prayed at the Liturgy was a group of seminarians from Indonesia and the Philippines who were studying at Moscow and St. Petersburg theological schools and who, with the blessing of the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and Southeast Asia, made pilgrimage trips to the churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church during the holidays. The group is accompanied by an employee of the Department of external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, D. I. Petrovsky.
The Patriarchal Service was broadcast live on the Soyuz and Spas TV channels and on the official portal of the Russian Orthodox Church Патриархия.ru. For the convenience of the faithful, a large screen was installed on the Cathedral square of the Donskoy monastery, where the broadcast from the Cathedral was broadcast.
The special litany included petitions for the beginning of the school year. At the special litany, prayer petitions were also made to get rid of the spread of coronavirus infection.
After a special litany, his Holiness read a prayer for teachers and students: “O Lord, o God and our Creator, who hast honored us with Thy image, who hast taught us Thy chosen ones, as Thou hast revealed wisdom to those who listen to Thy teaching as a child; as Thou hast taught Solomon and all those who seek Thy wisdom, open the hearts, minds, and mouths of these Thy servants, so that Thou mayest enjoy the power of Thy law, and Thy will. Deliver them from every enemy, keep them in Orthodox faith, and in all piety and purity all the days of their life, so that they may succeed in understanding and in fulfilling Thy commandments; so that they may glorify Thy most Holy name, and be heirs of Thy Kingdom. Thou art the God mighty in mercy, and blessings of the fortress, and to Thee is all glory, honor and worship, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen.”
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church also offered up a prayer during the spread of the malicious plague that occurred.
The sermon before communion was delivered by hieromonk Hermogenes (Burygin), Executive Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Department.
At the end of the Liturgy, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta to the service and presented him with the Bishop’s baton. The newly ordained Hierarch traditionally gave the faithful the first archpastoral blessing.
Then his Holiness performed the rite of prayer singing at the beginning of the teaching of the youths. The Primate of the Russian Church read a prayer for the beginning of the new school year.
His Holiness the Patriarch also performed a glorification and prayer before the Donskaya icon of the Mother of God and bowed to the miraculous image and venerable relics of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of all Russia.
On behalf of the inhabitants and parishioners of the Donskoy monastery, Bishop Eugene Bronnitsky congratulated his Holiness on the patronal feast of the monastery and presented his Holiness with a copy of the Donskaya icon of the Mother of God.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the faithful with the Primate’s word.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomed Bishop Eugene of Bronnitsky and presented him with a cross with the image of the Moscow saints in memory of the service.
Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
