27,000 Pilgrims Gather for Start of 110-mile Velikoretsky Cross Procession in Russia

Pravoslavie ^ | 6/4/19

[marshmallow]

Thousands of Orthodox faithful gathered in the Vyatka Metropolia yesterday for the start of the Velikoretsky (“Great River”) Cross Procession, held annually from June 3 to 8.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kirov Region, 27,000 pilgrims attended the opening of the 110-mile holy march with an ancient copy of the Velikotretsky Icon of the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to the banks of the Great River, to the place where the icon appeared, reports the press service of the Diocese of Vyatka and Sloboda.

The procession was preceded by the Divine Liturgy in Holy Dormition Cathedral of Trifonov Monastery in Kirov, headed by the primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Eugene of Tallinn and All Estonia, concelebrated by the local hierarch His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Vyatka and Sloboda and four other hierarchs, as well as numerous clergy of the Vyatka Metropolia.

Following the Divine Liturgy, an akathist was read in front of the Velikoretsky Icon on square in front of the cathedral. The Governor of the Kirov Region Igor Vasiliev then addressed the pilgrims with words of farewell and Met. Mark blessed all the participants in the procession.

[2banana]

God Bless Russia

[MuttTheHoople]

Hey, Stalin, how many divisions do you have?

[Bommer]

.....then off to Mexico to invade our borders!

[Jacquerie]

Wonderful tradition.