We heard today the Gospel story about the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist, the one described as “among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11) by the Savior Himself, and the one beheaded with a sword. This act of evil took place in the middle of a drunken feast when, intoxicated with wine and charmed with Salome’s dance, king Herod easily and mindlessly ordered to execute the righteous and holy man. As a reminder of the devastating consequences of excessive drinking, a strict fast was established on this day and declared the Day of Sobriety later.

It often happens that people choose sham pleasures of life that become a source of grief not only for them but also their loved ones. A lot of our countrymen, in search of transitory pleasures, become addicted to alcohol or other substances perishing spiritually and physically.

The Holy Church established to conduct a special prayer service for those suffering from alcohol addiction on the tragic day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

The Day of Sobriety was held for the first time in Russia over one hundred years ago in 1913 on the initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church. The tradition to hold prayer services was restored in 2014.

We prayed today about our Motherland, peace and wellbeing, ending sectarian conflicts, and about all those are suffering, feel aoppressed, or are held in captivity, those who seek consolation from above and specifically about those who suffer from alcohol addiction beseeching the Lord that He:

– delivers His servants from alcohol addiction and keeps their souls in salvific fear and in purity, restraint, and truth;

– has the grace of the Holy Spirit befalling His servants and delivers them from this sinful passion they harbor;

– sends the spirit of wisdom and reasoning to His servants and instill the fear of God in their hearts;

– gives them the power to vanguish their sinful passion and fall down before God in repentance to become the partakers of eternal blessings;

– accepts prayers and lamentations of their loved ones and others who weep and lament seeking consolation from Christ.