Vladyka Agafangel Homily on Nativity of Theotokos

ROCOR: Patronal Feast at the Convent
Author: Metropolitan Agafangel. Date of publication: September 8/21, 2026. Category: ROCOR.
http://internetsobor.org/index.php/novosti/rptsz/rptsz-khramovyj-prazdnik-v-zhenskom-monastyre

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The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos marks the patronal feast day of the convent (Abbess Alexandra). On this day, Metropolitan Agafangel celebrated the Divine Liturgy there, concelebrated by Hieromonk Iakov and Deacon Georgy Kucherenko. Following the service, a festive monastic meal was held.

A celebration of the spiritual dawn breaking over our land. A sermon by Metropolitan Agafangel delivered during the patronal feast of the convent in the village of Egorovka, near Odessa (Abbess Alexandra). The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, September 8/21, 2026.

Nativity of Theotokos Homily
Vladyka Agafangel
2026

The Church praises the Mother of God, singing: "From you shone forth the Light to the world—Christ our God."  That is to say,

If Christ is often compared to the sun, then today’s feast can be compared to the dawn.  This is the first feast of the church year.  And the entire circle of our life begins with the dawn — at the moment the Mother of God was born. At last, the human race had awaited the one who would be worthy, so that Christ might be born of her.  Christ, of course, is the true sun—the spiritual sun.

We know that in the heavenly kingdom there will be no celestial luminaries.  The only light there will be the light of Christ.  That is to say, Christ will illuminate everything.  As for the present time, right now... the day has already passed, and the spiritual darkness of sin, apostasy, and unbelief is already thickening around us.

These are likely the final days — for given how faith has waned and sin has multiplied on earth, surely nothing like this has ever happened in history.  May God grant us the strength to withstand this darkness surrounding us.  

And that is why we must earnestly pray to the Mother of God, the Mother of Light, so that she will help us stand firm  ...so that the light of Christ may remain in our souls until our very last breath.  

May the Lord protect you all.  Amen.

Sermon taken from You Tube transcript and put through the Google machine translator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up6dWkk8rzk

Note from Joanna:
     Just the opposite of world-orthodoxy, to which ROCOR-MP now clearly belongs, the historic true ROCOR has always obeyed Christ's command to watch.   Our ROCOR Fathers have always been keenly aware of the signs of the times, and never neglect to encourage us to be mindful of the times.  This is so unlike world-orthodoxy that not only neglects end times teachings, but even will ridicule you if you express an interest in it.   Once I pointed out something that Archbishop Averky had said about the end times to a newly-submitted ROCOR-MP priest.  He silenced me by abruptly scolding me, "Worry about your own end."  Apparently, ROCOR-MP Abp. Kyrill, Western Diocese, had instructed his priests to immediately squelch any interest in end times with this reminder.  Soon later, from a different newly-submitted ROCOR-MP priest, I found out the hard way that it is not ok to say anything that might imply a question about the new calendar.
     How comforting it is! how fortunate we are! to be in the historic ROCOR with our trusted Fathers, such as Archbishop Averky and Fr. Michael Pomazansky and Fr. Seraphim Rose.