Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Sunday Liturgy at the Representative Office of the Metropolitan District in Moscow

December 24, 2023 – Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. On this day, the face of the holy Forefathers is prayerfully glorified - patriarchs, prophets, kings and priests who lived in Old Testament times, who were saved by faith in the coming Messiah-Christ. The remembrance of the holy Forefathers precedes the meeting of the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, when the coming into the world of the Son of God took place, expected by Old Testament humanity.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church in the name of the holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia at the Patriarchal Metochion of the city of Moscow - the Representative Office of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

His Eminence was served by: assistant to the Head of the Metropolitan District, Hieromonk Anthony (Drobyazko) and clergy of the metochion.

The church choir sang under the direction of Anna Rozhnova.

The following people prayed during the service: Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation N.V. Parshikova; Head of the Moscow regional branch of the IOPS O.V. Shabunevich, employees of the Representation and parishioners of the temple.

The Hierarch offered prayers for the increase of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

The sermon after the sacramental verse was delivered by Archpriest Lev Aznovaryan.

At the end of the Liturgy, glorification of the holy Forefathers took place, after which Metropolitan Alexander delivered a word of teaching.

“Lent is the time when, in the words of the apostle: “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber” (Rom. 13:11). We are called by the Church to wake up from sinful oblivion, to break out of the cycle of vanity and languor of the spirit (see Ecc. 1:14) and remember the true meaning of life, the purpose of human existence on earth, remember that “Our citizenship is in Heaven” (Phil. 3:20). Fasting is the time when we, overcoming selfishness and arrogance, again put the Lord at the center of our lives, building the only correct coordinate system of our existence. Fasting is the time of our return to the Heavenly Father through repentance and participation in the sacraments of the Church - Confession and Holy Communion. The feat of fasting includes intense prayer and diligence in visiting church. Another component of it will be careful reading and study of the word of God - the Holy Scriptures. Another important aspect is necessary in completing the field of the Nativity Fast. In the words of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, “our limitation of ourselves in everything unnecessary, in everything superfluous, should bring benefit and joy to other people.” The Apostle Paul calls on us: “Put on... kindness, humility, gentleness and patience... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col. 3:12,14). On these holy days, let us hasten, if possible, to share material resources with those in need, visit the sick and weak, encourage the discouraged, warm the heart of everyone who seeks consolation with a kind word, let us try to see in our neighbors the image of Christ Himself.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.