On the Week after Theophany, the Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia celebrated Liturgy in the Church of Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Singapore
On January 22, the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost and after Theophany, the day of commemorating Holy Hierarch Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the wonderworker, the Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, led the service of the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Singapore.
His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Diocese of Singapore; Hegumen Pavel (Khokhlov), Rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; clerics of the Church of the Dormition: Priest Evgeny Shmelev, Priest Dimitry Lavrentiev, Hierodeacon Juvenaly (Marushchak), and Deacon Dimitry Semash.
At the end of the divine service, Metropolitan Sergiy cordially greeted the faithful and addressed the audience with his archpastoral word.
In his sermon, Vladyka Sergiy turned to the Sunday Gospel reading – when, the Lord, after His baptism in the waters of the Jordan received from the Holy Prophet John the Baptist, retired for forty days to the wilderness and was then tempted by the devil before going out to preach.
In this way, the Lord shows us an example of how to preserve the grace received in Baptism and other Sacraments of the Church, including one of the most important ones – the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Why does the Saviour begin His preaching by repeating St. John the Baptist’s famous call: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17)? In this way, the Lord shows us a direct connection between repentance and His Kingdom. He invites everyone to come in and stay forever in the Kingdom of Heaven, but there is an obstacle—our own sins. He also showed the way to overcome them – repentance and self-control. “Only then will we be able to do good deeds and sow the word of God, like Christ Himself, who went out to preach and began to heal the suffering only after fasting and temptations”, – concluded Vladyka.
On the same day, the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters of the Ocean was performed, and then a traditional parish picnic was held, at which those who wished could immerse themselves in the blessed waters and then have warm friendly conversations over a home-made meal and even participate in joint games.
On Lazarus Saturday, Patriarchal Exarch for South-East Asia Celebrated Divine Liturgy at Parish of Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer in George Town, Malaysia
On the Feast of Annunciation of Most Holy Theotokos, Patriarchal Exarch for South-East Asia celebrated divine services at Archpastor’s Metochion of St. Vladimir’s Church in Bekasi, Indonesia
