On the eve of the feast of the Laudation of the Mother of God, or Saturday of the Akathist, matins service was held with the reading of the Akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God in the Trinity Cathedral of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery.

It is a solemn service of this day: for each of the four readings of the Akathist, the Royal gates open and the clergy leave the altar to the singing of the kontakion “To Thee the Champion Leader.” To emphasize the significance of this prayer, Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas changes into different vestments at every entrance.

The Akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God is a prayer of thanksgiving dedicated to the One Who gave birth to the Savior of the whole world.

The akathist of thanksgiving to the Queen of Heaven poured forth from the lips of the deacon of the Church of Constantinople Gregory in the 7th century. The reason for its compilation was the deliverance of the Greek capital from imminent destruction that took place on the fifth week of the Holy Forty Days. Constantinople was besieged by Persians from all sides and lots all hopes for salvation. But with the help of the Heavenly Advocate, the enemy retreated and the Greek people sang hymns of thanksgiving and praise to their Savior: “O All-Holy Mother, Who didst bear the Word, holiest of all saints! Accept now our offering and rescue us from all misfortune, and rescue from the torment to come those that cry to Thee: Alleluia!“

For fifteen centuries, the faithful appealed to the Queen of Heaven with the words of this Akathist for every generation perceives Her love, power and authority.

The Church thanks the Mother of God for delivering us from our enemies and asks to free us from every misfortune. In this way the Church reminds us of the Heavenly Advocate of the Christian race and affirms the penitent in the hope to receive heavenly help.

The topic of intercession of the Queen of Heaven for the Christian race was raised in the hierarchical address offered by Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas for the faithful after the service.