Today the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates one of the great feasts – the Dormition of the Mother of God, which is a combination of sadness and loss of the Mother of God and the joy of her reunion with Jesus Christ.
It is one of the most revered holidays. The first cathedral church in Kiev, the Church of the Tithes, were dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God. Dormition Cathedrals were the main ones in Zvenigorod, Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl. The Cathedral of the Assumption in Moscow (one of several churches in Moscow's Kremlin) was the main church for the entire Russian Orthodox Church. Tzars and emperors were married and the patriarchs were enthroned there.
The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said today in his sermon after the church service that the Russian Orthodox Church has the task to feel the hearts of people with love and happiness.
"Today our aim is to preserve moral principles in human lives, faith in human hearts, which means to struggle for people’s lives, love, and happiness. The Church has no other purpose,’’ the Patriarch said.
During the sermon, he recalled that Christians are experiencing difficult times in many parts of the world, and drew attention to the danger of the proclamation of "full autonomy from God" and "non-recognition of his existence" in a number of countries. In his opinion, Christians have to first of all overcome disagreements among themselves. In conclusion of the sermon, he pointed out that the clergy bear the brunt of responsibility of keeping united “the entire Orthodox Church in the Universe."
