Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Province, Russia, December 12, 2023
Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
The city of Ekaterinburg, founded by Emperor Peter I in 1723 and named in honor of St. Catherine and his wife Empress Catherine I, is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year.
In honor of the anniversary and its patronal feast, the Ekaterinburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church held a procession through the Ural capital on December 7. A copy of the Mt. Sinai icon of St. Catherine with a particle of her relics was carried in the procession, as well as a reliquary with another particle of her relics that was gifted to the diocese from Orthodox faithful in Crimea on the occasion of the anniversary, the diocese reports.
Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
The procession of 3,700 people was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Evgeny of Ekaterinburg, His Grace Bishop Vladimir of Shadrinsk, and His Grace Bishop Theodosy of Nizhny Tagil.
“The Ekaterinburg frosts were no obstacle for the faithful. Like our glorious ancestors, the faithful celebrated the 300th name’s day of Ekaterinburg with a fervent prayer to their Heavenly patroness,” the diocese writes.
Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
Holding banners and crosses, the faithful marched through the city to the chapel located on the site of the altar of the St. Catherine Cathedral that was blown up nearly a century ago by the Bolsheviks. The newly gifted relics will be permanently kept in the chapel. The procession ended with a moleben to St. Catherine.
After the procession, all the participants were treated to hot tea and food.
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