On May 26, 2024, from Alexandro-Nevsky Lavra set off a motorized procession dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the transfer of the relics of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St. Petersburg. It takes place from May 26 to June 10 with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, with the assistance of the governments of St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Tver and Novgorod regions.
The motorized procession is headed by Bishop Kronstadtsky.
The rally, led by Bishop of Kronstadt Veniamin, the Lavra's residents Hieromonk Prokopiy (Pavlov), Hierodeacon Ilia (Vasilyev) and Hierodeacon Flavian (Kvashnin), as well as the head of the communications sector of the information department St. Petersburg Diocese and the Lavra Press Center Natalia Rodomanova and press center employee Anastasia Myasoedova.
The cross procession carries the most revered Lavra icon of Prince Alexander Nevsky from the 17th century with a part of his holy relics. The rally is accompanied by a film crew, which is shooting a documentary about this event.
Before leaving the monastery vicar Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a prayer service in the Alexander Nevsky church of the monastery.
Before leaving the monastery Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a prayer service in the Alexander Nevsky church of the monastery.
«For us St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky and his holy relics are very significant, — said Vladyka before his departure. — This year we have a jubilee year — 300 years of the transfer of the relics of the holy prince from Vladimir to St. Petersburg. Of course, we are especially preparing, there will be many different events. One of them begins today — this automobile procession. We hope that it will pass safely, joyfully. Now it is Easter days, and we are in a joyful, Easter mood. We will go to the historical places where the procession passed 300 years ago, pray at the shrines of Vladimir, Tver and Novgorod land, serve in ancient monasteries, communicate with different people. I am very glad that the Lord has allowed me to touch such historical events.
The procession repeats the historical route of the transfer of the shrine in 1723-1724. It will pass through the territory of Vladimir, Tver, Novgorod and Leningrad regions. The total length of the route taking into account the way from St. Petersburg to Vladimir — about 2,5 thousand kilometers.
In Vladimir pilgrims will visit the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, where the relics of Prince Alexander Nevsky were before being transferred to St. Petersburg, the ancient Assumption Cathedral — the tomb of the great princes of Vladimir, Trinity Church in the village of Vorsha, in which The unique sculptural icon of St. Prince Alexander of the XVIII century, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and other significant places associated with the memory of St. Alexander Nevsky have been preserved.
On May 27, the Archdiocesan Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery. The Lavra image of the holy prince will be available for veneration on May 27 and 28, and prayer services will be held before it.
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On May 29 the procession will leave for Tver. It is planned that on the way the participants will visit the church complex in Zavidovo and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gorodnya-na-Volga — places where the historical procession stopped.
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May 30 in the Resurrection Cathedral of Tver will be celebrated archdiocesan Divine Liturgy. The icon of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky will be available to the faithful during the day.
On May 31 the rally will continue to Novgorod region. The procession will pass through the church of the icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow» village of Yedrovo, Valdai Iversky Monastery, Trinity Church of Valdai, the church of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky in the village of Yazhelbitsy, Trinity Church in the village of Kresttsy, Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery. It is planned that prayer services will be held in all churches, and parishioners will be able to lay their hands on the Lavra image of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky.
On June 1, Petersburgers will visit one of Russia's oldest monasteries — Svyato-Yuryev. According to sources, here the relics of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky in the XVIII century met the hegumen and monks on boats, as the procession went to them by water on the Volkhov River. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, and parishioners will be able to lay their hands on the Lavra image of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky. On the same day pilgrims will visit other significant places in Veliky Novgorod, associated with the memory of the Blessed Prince Alexander and the transfer of his relics to St. Petersburg — the monastery of Anthony the Roman, the temple of Alexander Nevsky in Grigorovo. It is planned that in all churches there will be prayer services in front of the Lavra icon.
On June 2, the Archdiocesan Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod. There will be a procession to the monument «Millennium of Russia», where a prayer service will be served. On the same day pilgrims will visit the Novgorod Pokrovsky Cathedral, the Transfiguration Church in the village of Bronnitsa, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa. It is planned that in all the churches will be prayed before the Lavra icon.
On June 3 the rally will finish its stay on the Novgorod land with a visit to the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Chudov.
The concluding event On June 10, a prayer service will be held in the Oreshek fortress in Shlisselburg at the site of the St. John the Baptist Church, where the relics of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky were preserved in 1723-1724 before they were brought to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery on September 12, 1724.
St. Petersburg Metropolis/Patriarchy.ru
