On August 9, 2024 in Smolensk began celebrations in honor of the main shrine of the Smolensk land — the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God «Odigitria».
August 9, 2024 in Smolensk.
In the Assumption Cathedral, where the miracle-working icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary resides, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, Metropolitan Evgeny of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursk, Archbishop Justinian of Elista and Kalmyk, Bishop Nektariy of Livensk and Maloarkhangelsk, Bishop Sergiy of Vyazemsk and Gagarinsk celebrated Small Vespers with the reading of the Akathist to the Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God «Hodegetria». Traditionally, it is this service that opens the Odigitriya celebrations.
The clergy of the Smolensk Metropolis served with the hierarchs. The hymns of the Akathist were sung by the Bishops' Choir of the Dormition Cathedral.
Parishioners of the churches of the Smolensk Metropolis, participants of the XX International Odigitriyevsky procession to the Dormition Cathedral prayed at the service. Vitebsk — Smolensk, pilgrims from Russia and Belarus.
At the end of the akathist reading, bishops, clergy and laity kneeled and prayed to the Queen of Heaven at Her miracle-working image.
On the same day, the final of the VII International Festival of bell ringing «Odigitrievsky» took place on the Cathedral Hill. Ringers from Novokuznetsk, Bobruisk, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Pskov, Smolensk and Vitebsk took part in the festival. The participants were awarded letters of thanks from the head of the Smolensk Metropolitan Church.
In the evening, on the eve of the feast of the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God, called «Hodegetria» (Guide), in the Dormition Cathedral was celebrated vigil. The service was headed by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Metropolitan Aristarkh of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk, Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, Metropolitan Evgeny of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursk, Archbishop Justinian of Elista and Kalmyk, Bishop Nektariy of Livensk and Maloarkhangelsk, Bishop Sergiy of Vyazemsk and Gagarin, Bishop Meletiy of Roslavl and Desnogorsk. The bishops were served by clerics of the Smolensk Metropolis.
Bishop Nektariy of Roslavl and Desnogorsk.
The church was attended by the governor V.N. Anokhin, chief federal inspector for Smolensk region of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District Y.E. Streletsky, the head of Smolensk A.A. Novikov. Smolensk A.A. Novikov.
The residents of Smolensk, participants of the Odigitriyevsky procession, pilgrims from different cities of Russia and abroad prayed at the service.
After the All-Night Vigil on the Cathedral Hill there was a festive concert of the group «Kudesy». At the beginning of the event, Archpriest Valery Ryabokon, head of the Smolensk Eparchy Department for Relations between the Church and Society and the Media, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.
Bishop Sergius of Vyazemsk and Gagarin celebrated the night Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral. His Eminence was accompanied by the clergy of the Yartsevsky district of the Smolensk diocese.
On August 10, the early Divine Liturgy in the cathedral was celebrated by Priest Alexei Kolesnikov, dean of the Rudnyansky district of the Smolensk Diocese, with the clergy of the Rudnyansky and Demidovsky boroughs.
The early Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Priest Alexei Kolesnikov, dean of the Rudnyansky district of the Smolensk Diocese.
Late Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral was led by Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Metropolitan Aristarkh of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk, Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, Metropolitan Yekaterinburg and Verkhotursk Yevgeny, Archbishop Justinian of Elista and Kalmyk, Bishop Nektariy of Livensk and Maloarkhangelsk, Bishop Amvrosy of Borisov and Maryinogorsk. The bishops were served by clerics of the Smolensk Metropolis, as well as other dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Bishop Amvrosy.
A.A. Rumak, Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, A.A. Gusev, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Smolensk region, representatives of the Government of the Smolensk region and the city administration were present in the church.
A.A. Rumak, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Smolensk region, A.A. Gusev, representatives of the Government of the Smolensk region and the city administration.
The residents of Smolensk, participants of the Odigitriyevsky procession, pilgrims prayed at the service.
Metropolitan Isidore offered a prayer for Holy Russia, for the authorities and the army, for the people of Russia.
The sermon before Communion was delivered by Archpriest Alexander Melnichuk, one of the oldest clerics of the Assumption Cathedral.
The sermon before Communion was delivered by Archpriest Alexander Melnichuk.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Veniamin read Patriarchal greeting to the participants of the celebration of the Dormition Cathedral. in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The Patriarchal Exarch also donated to the Smolensk people an ark with a part of the relics of the martyr Mercury of Smolensk.
Metropolitan Isidore greeted the participants of the Odigitriyevsky celebrations. A.A. Gusev read out a welcome message from the Governor of the Smolensk region V.N. Anokhin.
Then there was a procession with the image of the Hodegetria of Smolensk and the ark with a part of the relics of the martyr Mercury. At the end of the procession on the platform in front of the cathedral church prayers were offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A prayer service to the Mother of God was held in the cathedral, the clergy and laity sang the prayer chant «Queen my Preblagaya». Then in front of the ark with a part of the relics of the martyr Mercury was made a magnification of the saint.
Live broadcast of the late Liturgy was organized on the TV channel «Russia 24. Smolensk», the platform «Smotrim.ru» on the website of the Smolensk Metropolis, on the YouTube channel of Minsk Metropolis, on social networks of the Smolensk Metropolis. A recording of the broadcast can be viewed at link.
Traditionally, the Odigitriyevsky celebrations continued with a concert program with the participation of The Smolensk Russian Folk Orchestra named after V.P. Dubrovsky, the Smolensk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and soloists of the Smolensk Philharmonic. Before the beginning of the concert guests were welcomed by Metropolitan Veniamin and Metropolitan Isidor.
On the Cathedral Hill were organized master classes on folk crafts and an exhibition of arts and crafts of Smolensk masters. Employees of the Main Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Smolensk region organized the work of the field kitchen.
По материалам сайта Смоленской митрополии
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