Lithuanian faithful process 15 miles in honor of Tikhvin Icon

Lebeniškės, Panevėžys County, Lithuania, July 8, 2026

Photo: orthodoxy.lt Photo: orthodoxy.lt     

Members of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church completed a traditional procession with the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God on July 4, ahead of the feast honoring the miracle-working image, which the Orthodox Church celebrates on July 9.

Before the procession began, a service was held before the Tikhvin Icon at the Church of St. Nicander in the village of Lebeniškės. The service was led by Frs. Sergei Kazarinov and Feodor Gurilev, reports the Lithuanian Orthodox Church.

Faithful from Panevėžys, Klaipėda, Vilnius, and other parishes of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church took part in the procession, walking about 15 miles to St. Nicholas Church in the village of Gegabrasta while praying, singing hymns, and reading Scripture.

​The procession started from the Church of St. Nicander in the village of Lebeniškės. Photo: orthodoxy.lt ​The procession started from the Church of St. Nicander in the village of Lebeniškės. Photo: orthodoxy.lt     

The journey took nearly nine hours and proved difficult. Weather conditions shifted repeatedly, with bright sun giving way to heavy rain and thunderstorms. During one stop, pilgrims waited out the storm for almost an hour before resuming their walk. Despite fatigue and the unpredictable weather, participants maintained their prayerful mood and completed the procession with spiritual joy.

The tradition of the procession is tied to the history of a local icon. St. Nicholas Church in Gegabrasta once held a especially venerated Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. It was also the place where the future renowned elder, Archpriest Nikolai Guryanov, began his pastoral ministry. The icon was later stolen. In memory of the lost image, a new copy of the Tikhvin Icon was created, which now resides permanently in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Panevėžys. According to established tradition, the icon is carried each summer in procession to St. Nicholas Church in Gegabrasta.

Upon completion of the procession, a thanksgiving moleben was held at St. Nicholas Church in Gegabrasta.

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7/8/2026

See also
OCA and ROCOR bishops concelebrate feast of Tikhvin Icon OCA and ROCOR bishops concelebrate feast of Tikhvin Icon OCA and ROCOR bishops concelebrate feast of Tikhvin Icon OCA and ROCOR bishops concelebrate feast of Tikhvin Icon
The icon is celebrated as the patron of the OCA’s Diocese of the Midwest, as the original Tikhvin Icon spent 55 years at Holy Trinity Cathedral, shielded there from the Soviet government’s persecution of religion, before being sent back to its original home at the Tikhvin Monastery in Russia in 2004. Constantinople elects another bishop outside its territory, for Lithuanian Exarchate Constantinople elects another bishop outside its territory, for Lithuanian Exarchate Constantinople elects another bishop outside its territory, for Lithuanian Exarchate Constantinople elects another bishop outside its territory, for Lithuanian Exarchate
The decision was made on May 26, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul under the chairmanship of Patriarch Bartholomew. A Homily Delivered at Alexeyevsky Village on the Day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God A Homily Delivered at Alexeyevsky Village on the Day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov) A Homily Delivered at Alexeyevsky Village on the Day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God A Homily Delivered at Alexeyevsky Village on the Day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov)
Her parents asked her, “What happened to you?” “Didn't you see how the Queen of Heaven came out of that corner?” the girl replied.

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