On 25 September 2019, the day of the leave-taking of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and the feast of Holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in Tashkent.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were Priest Igor Losev and Deacon Mikhail Mezhovikov.
At the end of the Liturgy, hymns of glorification were sung to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and to Holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, after which Metropolitan Vikenty addressed the faithful with an archpastoral word of instruction.
"We have commemorated the greatest event in our Church: the Nativity of Her who was to become the Mother of the Son of God, and who served the great mystery of the Incarnation, the coming into the world of Christ the Saviour for the redemption of the whole human race. This Maiden was born to Joachim and Anna, who had begged God all their lives to grant them a child, and as the fruit of their patience, humility, hope and deep faith they received this Child, who served the redemption of the whole human race.
Much depends on parents as to what kind of children are born to them. If the parents are pious, the children will be pious too. And so we see in Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Mother of God, that they showed special faith, piety and hope in God, and they were not put to shame in their hope, but received such joy for the whole human race."
In his sermon Metropolitan Vikenty also spoke briefly about the spiritual labours of Holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye:
"This saint was a simple man, a layman. He was not a clergyman, but a simple layman who chose the path of Christ in this life, living in the midst of this world, among people who, then as now, lived mostly in lawlessness, sin and vice. And living among such people, he tried to correct them, tried to give them the faith of Christ, tried to show them an example of Christian life. Thanks to this missionary service he accomplished a great deal: many people acquired faith in Christ, became Christians, began to build churches and to pray in the houses of God, where the Lord is present by His grace.
Holy Righteous Simeon acquired great grace, which pours forth to this day; through his prayers many people have received healing from various illnesses, and we have this holy icon with the relics of Holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye. Therefore let us hasten to him for help, for prayer, and for the healing of our ailments of soul and body."
