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Departments Global Issues Institute Backbone of Russian spirituality: Mother of God Church Derjevnaya by Charles Mercieca, Ph.D. February 11, 2007 President, International Association of Educators for World Peace Dedicated to United Nations Goals of Peace Education, Environmental Protection, Human Rights & Disarmament Professor Emeritus, Alabama A&M University One of the best religious experiences that one can possibly have is through participation in the liturgical function of the Orthodox Mother of God Church Derjevnaya in Russia. It is commonly known by its adherents as the Mother of God Church. This providential and inspirational Church fuses the best of traditional orthodoxy with some of the most meaningful liturgical events in the Roman Catholic Church. Weekly Spiritual Celebration Its weekly spiritual celebration injects in participants plenty of energy, dynamism, and enthusiasm, coupled with such virtues as faith, hope, humility, love and dedication to one’s neighbors. In addition to these spiritual benefits, this weekly spiritual celebration enhances great and genuine devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In both the Orthodox and Catholic churches, this spiritual event is known as the celebration of the Mass. What seems to make this event unique lies in the fact that several priests and religious, along with the laity, participate in this Mass celebration with great devotion. During this celebration we do not only witness the participants reciting beautiful prayers and sing heavenly songs, in addition to the priests’ spiritual exhortations, but we also witness a direct and enthusiastic communication with the Blessed Mother that bring tears of joy to many. In the center on top of the altar there is always a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary looking at the participants with eyes of love and mercy that one could see miraculous joy radiating from the heart of this statue. In fact, many feel the real presence of the Blessed Mother in their midst. She definitely must feel very proud to see so many children of hers brought together to spend some time with her, to communicate with her not only with prayers and singing but also with dancing, jumping and running in circles with joy like little children. An atmosphere like this brings to the mind of everyone the words of Jesus of Nazareth, when he told lovingly his disciples: “Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” At one time Jesus also said: “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” If that is the case, it is virtually certain that all those who are privileged to participate in the liturgical function of the Mother of God Church are destined for sure to go to heaven when the time arrives. Sound Philosophy in Perspective The philosophy of this great and holy Russian Church is very universal in nature, in the sense that it embraces all people in the world as the beloved children of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We all know that in the history of our earthly community, people often referred to other people by their nationality, or by their gender, or by their age group, or by their profession, or by their culture or by their religion and so on and so forth. The Virgin Mary has always viewed all the people of the world as her children and she feels very delighted by those especially who show great love and devotion for her son Jesus. She loves in a very special way those who seek her protection and try to stay close to her. The Mother of God Church gives the opportunity to all people from very walk of life and profession to approach her so that she could embrace them lovingly and deeply. It would be certainly nice and appropriate if, at one time or another, people from every walk of life and religion may participate in the liturgical functions of the Mother of God Church. These would include those from the various branches of Christianity like the faithful of the Greek and Russian Orthodox Church as well as Roman Catholics and Protestants. It would be equally appropriate for Buddhists, Jews, Moslems, and Hindus, in addition to others, to give themselves the opportunity to experience the lively presence of the Virgin Mary in such liturgical functions of the Mother of God Church. Most importantly, participation in the yearly Sobor event, which lasts two whole days, should be viewed as a great heavenly gift beyond which one cannot possibly receive a greater one. This yearly Sobor is, in essence, a Marian Congress where the Virgin Mary becomes the center of attention. The Russian people should feel very grateful and proud that the Blessed Mother, whom they always loved so dearly, would provide this great nation with such a holy and spiritually powerful instrument that is commonly known as the Mother of God Church. It is quite obvious that the Blessed Mother chose her most beloved and faithful son, Archbishop John Bereslavasky, to have this heavenly Marian gift developed not only throughout Russia but in the whole world in due time. Email this article to a friend |
Don't forget to check out articles from 2007 and 2008
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