On August 14, on the Feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in our church.
The service was presided over by the Rector of the parish, Archpriest Vadim Zakrevsky.
In his sermon, Father Vadim reminded us that the Cross of Christ is not only a sacred image and a sign of our faith, but, above all, a testimony to God’s boundless love for mankind. Through His sufferings on the Cross, the Lord granted salvation to mankind and opened the way to eternal life.
Father Vadim called upon everyone to reflect also on their own cross. It is important for a Christian not to murmur in the face of trials, not to seek only earthly well-being, but to follow Christ with faith, humility, and hope. It is precisely through patiently bearing one’s own cross that a person grows spiritually and draws closer to God.
On this day, the Dormition Fast begins — a special time of inner recollection, prayer, and repentance. Father Vadim reminded us that true fasting consists not only in abstaining from certain foods, but, above all, in struggling against our passions, in reconciliation with our neighbours, in mercy, and in good deeds.
The Rector also addressed the parishioners with the following wish: “May the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord strengthen us in faith, help us to pass worthily through the trials of life, and preserve us on the path to salvation.”