Saratov, Saratov Province, Russia, December 12, 2023
Photo: eparhia-saratov.ru
On Sunday December 10, a joyous event was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saratov, Russia, when the remains of the 20th-century Saratov hierarchs were laid to rest in the church.
The event was timed to the 30th anniversary of the repose of Archbishop Pimen (Khmelevsky) of Saratov. The day began with a memorial litiya celebrated at his grave by the current Saratov hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatius, the diocese reports.
Then the Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by Met. Ignatius and four other hierarchs and a host of local and visiting clergy. The church was filled with parishioners and Saratov seminarians.
During the Liturgy, the litany for the reposed was read for Archbishop Dosithei (Protopopov), Bishop Benjamin (Milov), and the aforementioned Abp. Pimen—all Saratov hierarchs of the 20th century.
Photo: eparhia-saratov.ru
Though they are not formally canonized, the article repeatedly refers to Abp. Dosithei and Bp. Benjamin as “Holy Hierarchs.” The homily before Communion covered the life of the Holy Hierarchs, their confession, and their popular veneration. After the service, a panikhida was served for Abp. Dosithei and Bp. Benjamin.
In the Soviet years, it was not allowed to bury the hierarchs within the church yard, thus they were buried at the Resurrection Cemetery in Saratov. In September of this year, the remains were unearthed and placed in the Holy Cross Church at the diocesan administration for several months as they were being prepared for burial. Panikhidas and memorial litiyas were regularly served. Their bodies were then placed in the Holy Protection Cathedral, where the faithful could come to venerate round-the-clock. They were then moved to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, with clergy continually reading the Gospel over the bodies of the hierarchs.
After the memorial service, accompanied by the chanting of the irmosi of Holy Saturday and the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, the Holy Hierarchs were carried around the cathedral and finally laid to rest in the tomb located in the lower Holy Dormition church.
Met. Ignatius emphasized that the Holy Hierarchs will always be with the faithful now and encouraged the flock to pray and repent and contemplate the coming General Resurrection.
Abp. Dosithei and Bp. Benjamin are both venerated as confessors of the Soviet times and have posthumous miracles attributed to their intercessions.
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