The feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated on 21 September 2017 at Saint Alexius Cathedral in Samarkand.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the rector of the church, Priest Igor Babakov.
The All-Night Vigil was served on the evening before.
The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, one of the Twelve Great Feasts, is the first in the yearly cycle and is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy.
On this bright day we remember the birth of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who by God's Providence was destined to become the Mother of the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ.
On this day everyone can find support and feel the holy intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. A person weak in soul and body is spiritually enriched, finds peace and gains the strength that the Most Holy Virgin bestows. The birth of the Theotokos is the beginning of all the important Church feasts. For it was on 14 September that people also celebrated the New Year, the beginning of the new church year, which means that the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos is the first great Church feast.
After the Divine Liturgy the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was glorified in song. The troparion, kontakion and magnification of the Most Holy Theotokos were sung.
In his sermon Fr. Igor spoke in detail about the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and about her unceasing intercession for the whole human race before her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
After the service Fr. Igor blessed all the parishioners, thanked them for praying together and congratulated everyone on the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.
