Orthodox Minsk greets New Year with annual procession for sobriety (+ VIDEO)

Minsk, January 2, 2018

Photo: sobor.by Photo: sobor.by
    

On New Year’s Day, when the Church celebrates the memory of the holy Martyr Boniface of Tarsus in Cilicia, the Minsk parish of the “Inexhaustible Cup” Icon of the Mother of God held its traditional cross procession for sobriety. The procession was headed by the head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church’s Coordination Center for Counteracting Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, the rector of the Inexhaustible Cup parish Archpriest Dionisy Pyasetsky, reports the site of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.

The cross procession passed through the streets of the capital with prayer for those suffering from the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction, and with preaching on a sober, healthy lifestyle.

“It is providential that on the first day of the new year the Church celebrates the memory of a saint to whom Christians lift up prayers for people suffering from alcohol addiction. Those who are tired of living in captivity … can, with the help of God and by the prayers of the Martyr Boniface, began a new life in sobriety, taking a vow not to use any spirit or drug. The vow is given at a special moleben which is served annually on this day in the parish of the ‘Inexhaustible Cup’ Icon of the Mother of God,” said Archpriest Dionisy.

Those concerned about the issues of drug and alcohol addiction took part in the cross procession, having come to the Inexhaustible Cup Church in the morning on New Year’s Day from throughout the capital, to testify by their example to the possibility of greeting the new year soberly and joyously.

Watch below a news report on the sobriety procession from New Year’s Day in 2014:

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1/2/2018

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The procession was held today for the fifth time. It’s a revival of St. Petersburg tradition. This year the cross procession was headed by the ruling hierarch, Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga. In addition to the wonderworking Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the revered Greek Panagia Soumela Icon of the Mother of God was carried at the head of the procession. Day of Sobriety is opportunity for alcoholics to get on right track—Pat. Kirill Day of Sobriety is opportunity for alcoholics to get on right track—Pat. Kirill Day of Sobriety is opportunity for alcoholics to get on right track—Pat. Kirill Day of Sobriety is opportunity for alcoholics to get on right track—Pat. Kirill
In his Day of Sobriety address, the primate stressed that it “is designed to help a man finding himself in cruel captivity to alcoholism and other harmful addictions, to reflect upon their lives and embark on the path of correction, and to find true freedom and joy in life, which is impossible without fulfilling the commandments of God, without doing good and conscious works, and without sincere love for people and care for them.” A memorial church on the site of the original one burned down by Nazis is consecrated in Belarus A memorial church on the site of the original one burned down by Nazis is consecrated in Belarus A memorial church on the site of the original one burned down by Nazis is consecrated in Belarus A memorial church on the site of the original one burned down by Nazis is consecrated in Belarus
The memorial church has been erected on the site of the original one, which was burned down by Nazis in 1943. 262 residents (including 108 children aged under 16) were burned alive inside that church.
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