On Saturday after Theophany, January 24, 2026, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated and presided over by the rector of our parish, Archpriest Vadim Zakrevsky.
On this day, the Church also commemorates Venerable Theodosius the Great, founder and leader of the cenobitic monastic life.
A particular attention should be paid to the sermon delivered by Father Vadim during the most recent Divine Liturgy on Saturday, January 24, which was based on the Gospel reading appointed for that day.
Drawing from this Gospel, Father Vadim formulated three questions that arise from its content. And one of these points — perhaps the principal one — within the context of the parable of the master and his servant, concerns the Lord’s indication to the apostles that they, in essence, lacked true faith. (In response to the apostles’ request to “increase their faith,” the Lord replied that there was, in fact, very little to increase.).
From a human perspective, this may seem incomprehensible, considering that many of the Apostles had left everything they possessed and followed Christ. Yet the Lord speaks in such a way, and in his sermon Father Vadim once again recalled these rather stern and admonishing words.
In other words, faith must be regarded as a key element in the fulfillment of the commandments of God and in the striving for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven – and not as a kind of “transaction” with God, reduced to the principle: “grant me this, and I shall do that.” In a certain sense, this sermon resonates with the homily delivered during the Divine Liturgy on January 11and which also includes the question of love and order in both spiritual and secular life (https://ruscerkovmonaco.org/2026/01/13/the-divine-liturgy-was-celebrated-on-january-11-2026/).
It is also fitting to recall here the question of love, for everything must begin with love – both in earthly life and in the ordering of the spiritual life. In this regard, it is likewise appropriate to remember the words attributed to Archbishop of Crimea Luke (Professor Voyno-Yasenetsky): “It is difficult-very difficult-to love people, for there is much malice in them, much that repels, much falsehood. Yet compel yourselves to love them; urge yourselves to do so. Remember that God is love, and remember that without love the entrance into the Kingdom of God is closed to you.”