Metropolitan Hilarion: the Mother of God always comes to our aid and always hears our prayers
On April 7, 2014, the Day of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady and the anniversary of the demise of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at the church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted-in-Bolshaya Ordynka, Moscow.
After the liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the congregation, delivering a sermon on the meaning of the Annunciation as not only a fruit of Divine providence and action but also human participation and contribution in the person of the Most Holy Mother of God, who humbly accepted God’s blessing to the human race through the Incarnation of the Son of God.
“In this mysterious way”, he said in particular, “the blessing of God is conveyed to people. Sometimes this blessing works contrary to the human will and infirmity… Today we remember the mysterious works of God entwined into human deeds and destinies. We know that the Most Holy Mother of God has brought us special blessings, for through her we have an impeded access to our Lord. She always comes to our aid and always hears our prayers. In the most difficult moments of our life, she keeps us from senseless actions, from sins and all kinds of follies. Even when we forget about God or Our Lady, She does not forget us”.
