Kazan, November 7, 2018
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru Thousands of citizens of the capital of the Tatarstan Republic came out on Monday to celebrate the feast of their beloved Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, established in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612.
The Divine Liturgy for the feast in the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kazan Kremlin was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Theophan of Kazan and Tatarstan, the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy His Eminence Archbishop Ambrose of Verey, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkassy, His Grace Bishop Innocent of Magnitogorsk and Upper Ural, His Grace Bishop Methody of Almetyevsk and Bugulma, and His Grace Bishop Parmen of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk, with the concelebration the abbots, deans, and rectors of the churches of the Kazan Diocese, reports the site of the Tatarstan Metropolia.
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru A revered copy of the Kazan Icon was brought from the Kazan-Theotokos Monastery for the feast.
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru The service was attended by the monastics of the Metropolia, students of the Kazan Seminary, sisters of mercy, and pilgrims from various regions of Russia. The celebrations were organized by the Cossacks, members of the “Kazan Orthodox Volunteers” youth movement, and employees of the Republic’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru Following the Divine Liturgy, a several-thousand-strong procession with the Kazan Icon was held, with the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful singing prayers to the Mother of God from the Annunciation Cathedral to the Kazan-Theotokos Monastery—the site of the appearance of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. A festive moleben was then served at the monastery before the glorified icon.
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru Addressing the citizens of Tatarstan, Met. Theophan called on the people to preserve peace and harmony despite the different faiths represented in the Republic. “Let the Day of National Unity [a federal holiday celebrated on the same day as the Kazan Icon—O.C.] and harmony, the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God be a reminder and a symbol of peace and harmony, which should be protected and to which we should strive.”
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru The brotherhood of the Kazan Monastery then sang an Akathist to the Mother of God while the faithful venerated her icon, followed by a brotherly meal.
Photo: tatmitropolia.ru Follow us on Facebook!
