Alexandrovka, Odessa Province, Ukraine, August 6, 2024
Photo: news.church.ua
In the early 1920s, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to a mute shepherd in the village of Alexandrovka in, today in Ukraine’s Odessa Province. The Mother of God opened the shepherd’s mouth so he could tell his fellow villagers about the miraculous appearance.
In 1924, on the feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Mary Magdalene, women from the village went to the site of Theotokos’ appearance. One woman also saw the Mother of God, who said to her: “Tell the people to hold on to the true faith and pray to God in repentance, and I have found a suitable place for myself here. Bring holy water, candles, incense, and oil here – in time, there will be a monastery here.”
Since then, this date has been considered the day of the foundation of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery in the village of Alexandrovka.
Thus, this year, on August 1-4, the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrated the centenary of the monastery’s foundation. The anniversary was marked with a procession led by the diocesan vicar His Grace Bishop Alypy of Taurtin, reports the Information-Education Department of the UOC.
The hierarch was joined by more than 300 priests and believers, offering prayers for peace and for the Ukrainian people.
The wonderworking Kasperov Icon was carried in the procession. The holy march ended with a visit to the monastery, where the participants were joyfully greeted by Abbess Ermogena and the sisterhood.
The Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 4, the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Sergei of Bolgrad and His Grace Bishop Alypy with diocesan clergy.
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