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Procession is an Orthodox rite performed
in the form of a reverent procession of believers
with icons, crosses, banners and
other Christian shrines
organized for the purpose of glorifying God,
asking for His mercy
and gracious support.

"Religious procession to Flora and Lavra". Artist Alexander Makovsky. 1921

The procession can be performed either along a closed route, for example, around a field, village, city, temple, or along a special route, where the starting and ending points are different.

The procession is deeply symbolic. The solemn ringing of bells expresses the triumph of the Cross of Christ, majestically carried, surrounded by a host of faithful who follow him like warriors following their sign. The procession is led by the saints, whose icons are carried in front. Processions of the cross consecrate all the elements of nature (earth, air, water, fire). This comes from icons, incense, the overshadowing of the altar cross on all sides of the world, sprinkling with water, burning candles ...

The practice of performing religious processions has ancient origin. There were religious processions in the IV century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions against the Arians through the streets of Constantinople. For this, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly worn around the city along with holy icons. People walked with lit candles.

Procession in the Kursk province

Later, in the fight against the heresy of Nestorius, special religious processions were arranged by St. Cyril of Alexandria, seeing the emperor's hesitation. Later, in Constantinople, in order to get rid of mass diseases, the Life-Giving Tree of the Holy Cross was taken out of the temples and carried along the streets of the city.

Procession in Moscow

Such processions were accompanied by common prayers containing petitions to God to protect the land and the inhabitants living on it from harm. In the event of a siege of the city, the route could run along the city walls or along the walls.
During the spread of heresies, special religious processions were performed, motivated by the desire to protect the Orthodox faith from desecration, and the believers themselves from mistakes and delusions.

All-Ukrainian Cross Procession, July 2016

Over time, the practice of solemn religious processions took root in the Church. Such moves were made in some holidays, during the consecration of temples, the transfer of the relics of saints, miraculous icons.

One of the oldest, Old Testament prototypes of the processions is the seven-day walk around the walls of Jericho by the Israelites (Josh. 6:1-4), the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Abeddar to the city of David (2 Kings 6:12).

Banners are an integral sign of any religious procession. During the trip of the children of Israel to the Promised Land, all 12 tribes made their journey following their signs, or banners, and every banner was carried in front of the tabernacle, and all their tribes followed it. Just as in Israel there were banners in every tribe, so we have our own banners in every church parish. As all the tribes of Israel traveled after their banners, so with us every parish during the procession follows its banners.
Instead of the then trumpeting, now we have a church evangelism, which is why all the air around and all people are sanctified, and all the power of demons is driven away.

Processions in Russia

We offer you a little about some of the famous religious processions in the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. In reality, of course, there are more of them, religious processions are held annually in almost every diocese.

St. George's procession

St. George's Procession to the places of military glory and the heroic defense of Leningrad takes place in St. Petersburg annually. The tradition began in 2005, the year of the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. remember dead defenders In Leningrad, veterans of the war, representatives of search teams, the youth organization "Vityazi", scouts, cadets of military universities, parishioners of St. Petersburg churches gather at the places of battles and burials.

Organizer: Rector of the St. Petersburg Church of the Icon Mother of God"Joy of All Who Sorrow" at Shpalernaya Archpriest Vyacheslav Kharinov.

Route: From Nevsky Piglet (St. Petersburg) through the Sinyavinsky Heights to the Assumption Church in the village of Lezier-Sologubovka, next to which is the Peace Park.

Velikoretsky cross procession

One of the largest annual religious processions in Russia. Passes with the revered Velikoretsk miraculous icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The procession has been known since the beginning of the 15th century. It was originally performed along the Vyatka and Velikaya rivers on boats and rafts on the first Sunday after the feast of the transfer of the holy relics of St. Nicholas to Bar-grad (May 22). Since 1668, with the blessing of Bishop Alexander of Vyatka, new date celebrations - 24/6 June. Later, since 1778, a new route was developed - overland, which is still in operation. For 5 days, the pilgrims travel 150 km.

Organizer: Vyatka diocese.

Route: Starts on June 3 from St. Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov, passes through the village of Makarye, the villages of Bobino, Zagarye, Monastyrskoye, Gorohovo. The final destination is the village of Velikoretskoye, where prayers are held in churches and on the banks of the Velikaya River. The pilgrims return back through the village of Medyany and the village of Murygino, and on June 8 they arrive in Kirov.

Procession to Ganina Yama

The course takes place in memory of the murdered royal family every year in July. The participants of the procession go from the Temple-on-the-Blood to the Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers on Ganina Yama. They follow the roads along which the bodies of the murdered Romanovs were carried in 1918. In 2015, the course brought together about 60 thousand pilgrims.

Organizer: Yekaterinburg diocese.

Route: Temple-on-the-Blood - the center of Yekaterinburg - VIZ - Tagansky row - Sorting - Shuvakish village - the monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers on Ganina Yama.

Kaluga procession

The procession is held with the "Kaluga" icon of the Mother of God, as part of the celebration of the anniversary of the death of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and the day of memory of Blessed Lawrence.

Organizer: Kaluga Missionary Department of the Kaluga Diocese.

Route: From the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kaluga through more than 30 settlements of the Kaluga, Kozelsk, and Pesochensk dioceses with a return to Kaluga

Procession with the Tabynsk Icon of the Mother of God

In Bashkiria, since 1992, the Bashkortostan Metropolis has been hosting the annual Tabynsk procession with the Tabynsk image of the Mother of God.

Organizer: Ufa and Salavat diocese

Route: passes through the districts of the Salavat and Ufa eparchies of the Bashkortostan Metropolis to the place of the appearance on the river. Usolke at the salty springs with. A resort in the Gafury region, where a miraculous image was found more than 450 years ago.

Dates and duration: Several religious processions may start from different settlements in different days, while the end of the moves, merging into the end into one procession, is timed to coincide with the ninth Friday after Easter - the day of the celebration of the Tabynsk Icon of the Mother of God.

Ufa Trinity Cross Procession

The Trinity Cross passes around Ufa: pilgrims walk more than 120 km and pray for the health and salvation of all the inhabitants of the city of Ufa.

Organizer: Ufa diocese

Route: Starts from St. Sergius Cathedral in Ufa and runs along the outskirts of Ufa.

Dates and duration: begins annually on the day of the Holy Trinity and lasts 5 days.

Procession with the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" Kursk-Root

The Kursk Icon of the Sign of the Mother of God is one of the oldest icons of the Russian Church, acquired in the 13th century during the Tatar invasion. During the days of the march, the icon is transferred from Kursk to the Root Hermitage and back in a solemn religious procession, which stretched all the way from the Znamensky Monastery in Kursk to the Root Hermitage - 27 versts.

Organizer: Kursk diocese.

Route: Znamensky monastery- Kursk Root Nativity-Virgin Hermitage.

Dates and duration: every year 9 Friday after Easter.

Procession with the Icon of the Mother of God
"Deliverer of Troubles" in Tashlu

The procession with the Tashlinskaya Icon of the Mother of God, organized by the Cossacks of the village of Krasnoglinskaya of the Samara District Cossack Society, began in 2014 and passed through the territory of the Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza and Ulyanovsk regions. Tashli Icon of the Mother of God "The Redeemer from Troubles" - miraculous icon, revered in the Volga region, the main shrine of the Samara diocese - was found on October 21, 1917 near the village of Tashla, Samara province.

Organizer: Samara diocese.

Route: Samara - Tashla village, about 71 km.

Dates and duration: beginning on the first day of Peter's fast, duration 3 days.

Procession in memory of all the New Martyrs
and confessors of Russian

The procession has been held every year since 2000. It is dedicated to the memory of all the new martyrs and confessors of Russia, including the martyrs of Vavilov Dol: the inhabitants of the cave monastery, who were killed during the years of Soviet power, once located in the picturesque forest area of the Volga region. Total length the procession is 500 kilometers.

Organizer: Saratov diocese.

Route: Saratov - Vavilov Dol

Volga procession

The Volga Cross Procession began its history in 1999. Then, on the eve of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', on June 20, from the source of the Volga, the procession began along the waters of the three great Slavic rivers: the Volga, the Dnieper, Western Dvina. In 2000, the pre-revolutionary tradition of consecrating the source of the Volga River and the beginning of the Volga procession were combined into one holiday from that time. In 2016, the XVIII Volga Cross Procession will be held as part of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the presence of Russian monasticism on Mount Athos.

Organizer: Tver diocese.

Itinerary: Olgin Monastery in the Volgoverkhovye - Ascension Cathedral in the city of Kalyazin.

Irinarhovsky procession

Every year in July, a religious procession is made from the Borisoglebsky Monastery to the source of St. Irinarkh. It is dedicated to the revered saint of the monastery - St. Irinarkh the Recluse and symbolically connects the village of Kondakovo - his homeland and the Borisoglebsky Monastery - the place of his stay and rest. The religious procession has traditionally been held for over 300 years. During the years of Soviet power, it was not carried out. Relaunched on the old route in 1997. The procession ends on Sunday. Length: no more than 60-65 km. Participants: over 2000.

Organizer: Yaroslavl and Rostov diocese.

Route: Borisoglebsky Monastery - Trinity-na-boru - Selishche - Shipino - Kishkino - Komarovo - Pavlovo - Ilyinskoye - Red October - Yazykovo - Aleshkino - Kuchery - Ivanovskoye - Titovo - Zvyagino - Emelyaninovo - Georgievskoye - Nikulskoye - Gorki - Zubarevo - Davydovo - Novoselka - Kondakovo - the well of the Monk Irinarch

Dates and duration: Held annually on the 3rd - 4th week of July. The dates are approved by Bishop Kirill of Yaroslavl and Rostov approximately one month before it starts.

The procession is a long-established tradition of believing Orthodox people, which consists in a solemn procession led by clergy who carry banners, icons, crosses and other shrines. It takes place around the church, from temple to temple, goes to a reservoir or to another object of the Orthodox shrine. Processions pass through different occasions- to the glory of Jesus Christ, revered saints, church holidays. They are: Easter, funeral, water lighting, funeral, missionary and others.

Processions have become part of the life of the Orthodox world. The most famous of them are Easter, which begin close to midnight. Easter is celebrated annually and is calculated for each year separately. The criterion is the day of the equinox in the spring and such a phenomenon as the full moon. The first Sunday after these events will be the day of Easter.

The Easter Procession is a great event for the Orthodox who take part in this procession. The main essence is the believers, led by the clergy, go towards the good news of the resurrection of Christ. At this time, church bells ring. The participants in the procession sing festive chants. The procession takes place at night from Holy Saturday to Holy Sunday. In accordance with this, in 2019 the procession will take place on the night of April 27-28, in 2020 - from April 18-19.

On the days when Orthodox holidays are held, the procession is determined by the community.

According to the established tradition, religious processions take place in many settlements: cities and villages and have a specific purpose. Their list is very large. They are dedicated to various events and Orthodox dates. Here are some of them:

Velikoretsky - takes place with the icon of the revered Velikoretsky Nicholas the Wonderworker from June 3 to 8;
Kaluga - with the icon of the Mother of God, dates: 28.06-31.07;
Kursk - with the icon of the Mother of God of the Sign of the Kursk-Root 9 Friday after Easter;
Saratov - held in honor of the memory of the Russian New Martyrs and Confessors from June 26 to July 17;
Georgievsky - to the places of glory and the heroic defense of Leningrad from May 5 to 10;
Samara - with the icon of the Mother of God "The deliverer from troubles" in Tashla. It takes place on the first day of Petrov's Fast and lasts 3 days.

Procession is the essence

The performance of the procession always has some purpose and is carried out only with the blessing of the archpastor, bishop. The religious procession expresses the common faith of the people, unites people and increases the number of believers. A lantern is carried ahead of the course, which symbolizes the Divine Light.

They carry banners - portable banners on which the faces of saints are depicted.

Icons, the Gospel and all kinds of shrines are carried by clergy and believers who participate in the procession. Processions illuminate everything around - earth, fire, water, air. Prayers of people, icons, sprinkling with holy water, incense - have a sacred effect on the world around.

The reason for the procession may be different:

The procession is organized by a specific church community and is timed to coincide with Orthodox holiday or event. For example, the illumination of a temple or a celebration in honor of a revered icon.
Easter - in Palm Sunday during Bright Week.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - at this time the water is illuminated.
Funeral - a procession escorts the deceased to the cemetery.
Missionary, the purpose of which is to attract believers into their ranks.
Public holidays or events.
Emergencies - wars, natural disasters, epidemics.
Procession taking place in the temple.

The Procession of the Cross takes place relative to the sun against its movement. Old Believers go clockwise, i.e. by the movement of the sun. Depending on the purpose, the procession goes around the church, from temple to temple, to the shrine that is revered. Processions of the cross are short in time, for example, on Easter and multi-day, passing several days.

In our age of technological progress, the procession can be carried out by helicopter or plane by clergy who fly over certain territory with miraculous icon. On January 2, 1941, lists of the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God were loaded onto the plane and flew around Moscow with it. There is a high probability that it was this flight that stopped the enemy in his attack on the city.

History of the procession of Russia

Since time immemorial, the procession has been leading its history. During the battle in 312, Constantine, the emperor of Rome, saw a sign in heaven in the form of a cross, on which was the inscription - Conquer this!

Constantine ordered to make banners on which crosses were depicted, later called Banners.

An example of religious processions in Rus' was the Church of Constantinople. Appeal to God by universal prayer in case of disasters and emergencies. We know from the time of the Old Testament that there were solemn processions. The city of Jericho and its siege - in the book of Jesus Novin it is written: the city will be subdued if you go around it for six days with the ark of the covenant. The seventh day was marked by the cries of the people and the walls of Jericho collapsed.

The Christian Church in the early days of its existence held secret night processions. The relics of Orthodox martyrs were transferred. At the end of the fourth century Christianity was legalized. Processions of the cross began to take place openly, which the Orthodox rejoiced at. In memory of the martyrs, they went through the procession through the cities and villages with hymns and prayers, visited the places of the Passion of Christ. Litany, that was the name of these processions.

Litany - translated from Greek means fervent prayer.

Also known is the fact about John Chrysostom, who started the rule of the procession, so that the people would be distracted from any heresy. It was in the 4th or 5th century.

Simultaneously with the Baptism of Rus', a tradition came to hold processions - religious processions. Illumination of the people took place on the banks of the Dnieper, which was accompanied by a solemn passage with the bearing of the face of saints. Since then, this tradition has become a regular. Processions were held on different occasions. The people believed that making a procession, reading prayers under open sky, they call on the Lord God to help in their distress and God hears them and helps.

The holding of religious processions in Rus' is widely represented in the paintings of Russian artists. Here are some of them:

Zaitsev E. Prayer on the Borodino field

B.M. Kustodiev

N.K. Roerich

A.V. Isupov

I.E. Repin

K.E. Makovsky

Velikoretskaya icon, a brief history with a photo

The history of finding the icon dates back to the 14th century. A peasant from the village of Krutitsy, Agalkov Semyon, was going about his business and saw sowing in the forest. On the way back, he was again attracted by the light, which beckoned to itself. Unable to resist, he approached this divine light and was surprised when the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to him. Subsequently, it turned out that the icon is able to heal diseases. They learned it this way: the villager had sore legs and could not walk, kissing the icon, he was healed. Since then, fame has gone about the icon. This event took place on the banks of the Velikaya River, so the icon was called Velikoretskaya. The clergy appealed to the peasants to transfer the miraculous icon to Khlynov in order to ensure its safety and to more people could venerate the miraculous icon. The place where the icon appeared, people wanted to mark, they built a chapel, and later a temple.

The city of Khlynov was first renamed into the city of Vyatka, then into Kirov - that is how it is called until now.

The icon is an engraving that depicts the life and deeds of the saint, there are 8 of them:

Teachings of St. Nicholas.
The dream of Tsar Constantine and the appearance of the miracle worker Nicholas to him.
Rescue of Demetrius from the bottom of the sea by Saint Nicholas.
Zion is the service of Saint Nicholas.
Salvation of the ship from the flood by St. Nicholas.
Deliverance from the sword of three men.

The return of Agrikov's son Basil from the Saracen captivity.

The resting burial place of St. Nicholas.

In the middle is the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In 1555 the icon traveled to Moscow. St. Basil's Cathedral was just under construction then. One of the limits of the temple was illuminated in honor of the miraculous icon.

In 2016, a miracle happened again in the village of Velikoretsky. The Trifonov Monastery became famous in the courtyard of which the face of Nicholas the Wonderworker was discovered. One of the novices of the monastery wanted to make a damper for a technical window in a barn where they kept livestock. It was a piece of old iron sheet.

I found the face of Nicholas the Wonderworker on an iron sheet, the head of the farmstead, who came to clean the snow. She felt that someone was looking at her. Thus, the face appeared to people once again.

Velikoretsky Cross Procession route

The religious procession, its traditions and attributes, with the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, began after its transfer to the city of Khlynov in the Vyatka region. It was agreed to return the icon to the place where it was found every year. It was kept in the church of St. Procopius of Ustyug, and subsequently the St. Nicholas Cathedral was built specifically for this icon.

In the 30s of the twentieth century, the procession was banned. When perestroika came, the attitude of the authorities began to gradually change. Gradually, the tradition began to revive. At first, a divine service was allowed on the banks of the Velikaya River, then a procession from the village of Chudinovo. Now the route is completely restored. Every year, at the beginning of June, thousands of people wish to take part in this event.

The route is quite long and it may seem that it is impossible to walk such a path on foot. Its length is more than 150 km. The procession begins with a memorial service at the Assumption Cathedral at 7 o'clock in the morning. At 8 o'clock - in the city of Kirov, in the Holy Dormition cathedral the Divine Liturgy takes place. On the Cathedral Square of the Monastery of the Holy Assumption, Trifonov, at 10 o'clock - a prayer service and from there at 11 o'clock the procession begins. The Trinity Church of the city of Kirov meets him. The next point is the village of Bobino.

You can use the buses that accompany the procession and transport people as they fill up. Buses are also waiting for pilgrims in the city of Kirov and deliver directly to their destination, to the village of Velikoretskoye.

In order to perform the procession according to all the rules, it is necessary to receive a blessing from the priest. When preparing, you need to stock up with the necessary things and water in advance.

Take a couple of plastic bottles with you. Water can be collected at stopping points, as well as specially brought water.
Buy a special travel mat for overnight stays.
Necessary medicines that you will need on the way, collect a travel first-aid kit.
You don't have to take food, you can buy it. Hot food and tea outlets are organized.
Dried fruits and nuts will not take up much space and will satisfy your hunger.
Raincoats, in case it rains.
From things - counting that the nights can be cold, warm things are necessary.
Headwear, sunglasses will save you from hot and sultry weather.
Comfortable shoes, a second pair may be needed.
Insect repellents - mosquitoes and midges.

During stops, you can have a bite to eat, a field kitchen is open. At the request of each pilgrim, things can be loaded onto the bus that goes to the stops. Everyone provides their own lodging for the night, someone takes a tent with them. Along the way, in the villages, kind people invite those going to eat and spend the night.

When gathering for a multi-day procession, you need to remember that this is a difficult path and you need to prepare for it in advance.

In early July, the largest Orthodox procession began not only for Ukraine, but for the entire Russian Orthodox Church. All-Ukrainian Religious Procession, which will pass through the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In the east of the country, it began from the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra. In the west - from the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra - it will begin on July 9th. July 27, on the eve of the celebration of the day of Epiphany Kievan Rus and in memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, these processions will meet in Kyiv on Volodymyr's Hill and together they will go to the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

The purpose of the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession, held with the blessing of Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, is a prayer for peace, for unity and mutual understanding in Ukraine: the procession is designed to unite the Orthodox in all regions.

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Ten results of the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession in 2016- Vyacheslav Pikhovshek

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The procession is an Orthodox rite, carried out in the form of a reverent procession of believers with icons, crosses, banners and other Christian shrines, organized with the aim of glorifying God, asking Him for mercy and grace-filled support.

"Religious procession to Flora and Lavra". Artist Alexander Makovsky. 1921

The procession can be performed either along a closed route, for example, around a field, village, city, temple, or along a special route, where the starting and ending points are different.

The practice of performing religious processions has an ancient origin. There were religious processions in the IV century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions against the Arians through the streets of Constantinople. For this, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly worn around the city along with holy icons. People walked with lit candles.

The immediate reason for the organization of propitiatory processions could be extraordinary circumstances, for example, natural or natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, droughts, crop failures), epidemics, the threat of the seizure of territory by the enemy. Such processions were accompanied by common prayers containing petitions to God to protect the land and the inhabitants living on it from harm. In the event of a siege of the city, the route could run along the city walls or along the walls.

During the spread of heresies, special religious processions were performed, motivated by the desire to protect the Orthodox faith from desecration, and the believers themselves from mistakes and delusions.

Over time, the practice of solemn religious processions took root in the Church. Such passages were carried out on some holidays, during the consecration of temples, the transfer of the relics of saints, miraculous icons.

One of the oldest, Old Testament prototypes of the processions is the seven-day walk around the walls of Jericho by the Israelites (Josh. 6:1-4), the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Abeddar to the city of David (2 Kings 6:12).

Instead of the then trumpeting, now we have a church evangelism, which is why all the air around and all people are sanctified, and all the power of demons is driven away.

***

Processions in Russia

We offer you a little bit about some famous religious processions in the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. In reality, of course, there are more of them, religious processions are held annually in almost every diocese.

St. George's Procession to the places of military glory and the heroic defense of Leningrad takes place in St. Petersburg annually. The tradition began in 2005, the year of the 60th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. War veterans, representatives of search teams, the youth organization "Vityazi", scouts, cadets of military universities, parishioners of churches in St. Petersburg gather to commemorate the fallen defenders of Leningrad at the battlefields and burial sites.

Organizer: Rector of the St. Petersburg Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" on Shpalernaya Archpriest Vyacheslav Kharinov.

Route: From Nevsky Piglet (St. Petersburg) through the Sinyavinsky Heights to the Assumption Church in the village of Lezier-Sologubovka, next to which is the Peace Park.

One of the largest annual religious processions in Russia. Passes with the revered Velikoretsk miraculous icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The procession has been known since the beginning of the 15th century. It was originally performed along the Vyatka and Velikaya rivers on boats and rafts on the first Sunday after the feast of the transfer of the holy relics of St. Nicholas to Bar-grad (May 22). Since 1668, with the blessing of the Bishop of Vyatka Alexander, a new date for the celebration has been set - June 24/6. Later, since 1778, a new route was developed - overland, which is still in operation. For 5 days, the pilgrims travel 150 km.

Organizer: Vyatka diocese.

Organizer: Yekaterinburg diocese.

Route: Temple-on-the-Blood - the center of Yekaterinburg - VIZ - Tagansky row - Sorting - Shuvakish village - the monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers on Ganina Yama.

Organizer: Kaluga Missionary Department of the Kaluga Diocese.

Route: From the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kaluga through more than 30 settlements of the Kaluga, Kozelsk, and Pesochensk dioceses with a return to Kaluga

Procession with the Tabynsk Icon of the Mother of God

In Bashkiria, since 1992, the Bashkortostan Metropolis has been hosting the annual Tabynsk procession with the Tabynsk image of the Mother of God.

Organizer: Ufa and Salavat diocese

Dates and duration: Several religious processions can start from different settlements on different days, while the end of the processions, merging into completion in one procession, is timed to the ninth Friday after Easter - the day of the celebration of the Tabynsk Icon of the Mother of God.

The Trinity Cross passes around Ufa: pilgrims walk more than 120 km and pray for the health and salvation of all the inhabitants of the city of Ufa.

Organizer: Ufa diocese

Route: Starts from St. Sergius Cathedral in Ufa and runs along the outskirts of Ufa.

Dates and duration: begins annually on the day of the Holy Trinity and lasts 5 days.

Procession with the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" Kursk-Root

Organizer: Kursk diocese.

Route: Znamensky Monastery - Kursk Root Nativity-Bogorodichnaya Hermitage.

Dates and duration: every year 9 Friday after Easter.

Procession with the Icon of the Mother of God "The Redeemer from Troubles" in Tashlu

The procession with the Tashlinskaya Icon of the Mother of God, organized by the Cossacks of the village of Krasnoglinskaya of the Samara District Cossack Society, began in 2014 and passed through the territory of the Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza and Ulyanovsk regions. The Tashli Icon of the Mother of God "The Redeemer from Troubles" - a miraculous icon revered in the Volga region, the main shrine of the Samara diocese - was found on October 21, 1917 near the village of Tashla, Samara province.

Organizer: Samara diocese.

Route: Samara - Tashla village, about 71 km.

Dates and duration: beginning on the first day of Peter's fast, duration 3 days.

Procession in memory of all New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia

The procession has been held every year since 2000. It is dedicated to the memory of all the new martyrs and confessors of Russia, including the martyrs of Vavilov Dol: the inhabitants of the cave monastery, who were killed during the years of Soviet power, once located in the picturesque forest area of the Volga region. The total length of the procession is 500 kilometers.

Organizer: Saratov diocese.

Route: Saratov - Vavilov Dol

The Volga Cross Procession began its history in 1999. Then, on the eve of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', on June 20, from the source of the Volga, the procession began along the waters of the three great Slavic rivers: the Volga, the Dnieper, the Western Dvina. In 2000, the pre-revolutionary tradition of consecrating the source of the Volga River and the beginning of the Volga procession were combined into one holiday from that time. In 2016, the XVIII Volga Cross Procession will be held as part of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the presence of Russian monasticism on Mount Athos.

Organizer: Tver diocese.

Itinerary: Olgin Monastery in the Volgoverkhovye - Ascension Cathedral in the city of Kalyazin.

Organizer: Yaroslavl and Rostov diocese.

Dates and duration: Held annually on the 3rd - 4th week of July. The dates are approved by Bishop Kirill of Yaroslavl and Rostov approximately one month before it starts.

Do you want to know more about the procession for Easter in 2019? On the eve of this holiday, which is celebrated by Orthodox believers on April 28, 2019, church services are held in churches.

Divine services are especially solemn on the night from Saturday to Sunday. It goes on all night and is called Vespers.

When and how is the procession for Easter in 2019? What time is the procession for Easter? Let's talk about this in more detail.

This procession got its name because it is usually led by a priest who carries a large cross. Other clergy carry icons and banners.

On Easter, a lantern is carried in front of the procession, followed by an altar cross, the altarpiece of the Mother of God, the Gospel, the icon of the Resurrection. The procession ends with the primate of the temple with a tri-candlestick and a cross.

In Orthodoxy, there are long and short religious processions. The procession on Easter, as a rule, is short-lived.

Where and when does the procession take place on Easter?

Church service in Good Saturday starts in the evening, at 20.00. And the procession takes place on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

What time is the procession for Easter? This action takes place around midnight. All clergy stand in order at the Throne. Priests and worshipers in the temple light candles. The solemn ringing of bells - the bells - heralds the onset of the great minute of the bright holiday - the resurrection of Christ.

The clergy and the flock go around the temple three times, each time stopping at its door. The first two times the doors are closed, and the third time they open. The doors symbolize the stone that closed the Holy Sepulcher and was thrown away on the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now you know when and how the procession for Easter takes place. After the procession, with the onset of Easter, the priests change into white festive robes and the service continues.

Bright Matins begins, during which joyful exclamations sound: “Christ is Risen!” “Truly Risen!” After the festive liturgy, at about 4 o'clock in the morning, the faithful break their fast colored eggs, pieces of Easter cake or easter.

If on the eve, during the days of Passion Week, the bells in the churches were silent, then on Easter week, the good news is heard everywhere. On Easter, it is customary to visit friends and relatives, treat yourself and treat others.

In the old days these days they arranged festivities, led round dances, swung on a swing. This holiday is widely celebrated in our time.

One of the external manifestations of religiosity in an Orthodox person is religious processions. Easter of Christ, a temple holiday, the day of remembrance of a revered saint or miraculous image - are always accompanied by a procession of the cross, this triumphant procession of Christians. If suddenly there is an invasion of enemies, an epidemic, a fire, the people carry the image of a revered saint through the streets.

What is the origin of religious processions, in whose honor and when were they held?

A religious procession is a solemn procession of clergy and lay believers with icons, banners and other shrines. There are also emergency religious processions established by the Church on especially important occasions.

The processions originated from Old Testament. The ancient righteous often made solemn and popular processions with singing, trumpeting and jubilation. Narratives about this are set out in the sacred books of the Old Testament: Exodus, Numbers, Kings, Psalter and others.

In the New Testament history, the founder of the processions was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord's Entry into Jerusalem is a model of the procession given by the Lord himself, Who solemnly entered the city to suffer on the Cross, accompanied by the people and with universal exclamations: "Hosanna to the Son of David."

In the 4th century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions against the Arians through the streets of Constantinople. For this, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly worn around the city along with holy icons. People walked with lit candles. This is how our church processions arose. Later, in the fight against the heresy of Nestorius, special religious processions were arranged by St. Cyril of Alexandria, seeing the emperor's hesitation.

Later, in Constantinople, in order to get rid of mass diseases, the Life-Giving Tree of the Holy Cross was taken out of the temples and carried along the streets of the city. Thus, a holiday was established, which received the name Origin (wearing, descent) of the honest trees of the Cross of the Lord (August 1/14). Then a tradition was established to hold processions around churches on Great and patronal feasts, to springs, to consecrate water on the feast of the Epiphany (Baptism). The obligatory religious procession and the most joyful one takes place on the feast of holidays - Easter.

Over the centuries, processions began to take place not only on the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. After the end of the era of persecution of Christians, religious processions become ubiquitous. They are so firmly entrenched in the ranks Orthodox worship that now any significant church celebration without them is simply unthinkable.

These processions got their name "godfather" from the cross carried in front. Jesus Christ, going to suffering, carried a cross on his shoulders. Therefore, we carry the crucifix ahead of the march. The cross, the icon of the Mother of God, candles, church banners, icons, relics - these are the unchanging shrines of these processions. These are symbols of unity with the heavenly Church.

In Rus', people have always loved the Processions of the Cross, appreciated their cleansing and prayer power. Folk belief in haste in help heavenly intercessors, honored during the procession, was limitless. The history of Holy Rus' literally from the first days of its birth is connected with the Procession of the Cross.

Of interest are the rules of conduct during the procession, compiled by Met. Filaret about a specific procession from the Golutvin Monastery to Kolomna in memory of the cessation of cholera, but of a general nature.

“The clergy should remind themselves and others of good times, - stated in these rules - that in order for this good undertaking to bear good fruit, for this it is necessary that the work of God be done with deep and uninterrupted reverent attention. When you enter the procession, think that you are walking under the leadership of the saints, whose icons are marching in it, approaching the Lord Himself, since our weakness is possible. The shrine of the earth marks and invokes the shrine of heaven; the presence of the Lord's cross and holy icons and the sprinkling of holy water purifies the air and earth from our sinful impurities, removes dark forces and brings the bright ones closer. Use this help for your faith and prayer and do not make it useless for you by your negligence. Hearing church singing in the procession, join your prayer with it; and if you can’t hear from a distance, call on the Lord, the Mother of God and His saints in the manner of prayer known to you. Do not enter into conversations with companions; and to the one who starts the conversation, answer with a silent bow or a brief word only necessary. The clergy should be an example of order and reverence, and the secular should not crowd between the clergy and upset order. It does not matter if you lag behind in body: do not lag behind the shrine in spirit.

Religious processions most clearly show the folk character of Orthodoxy in Rus', contribute to the strengthening of faith and spirit, the unity of the Slavic peoples. During the processions, the Temple becomes nature, the sky, and man is a candle flaming to God. Everything that is encountered along the path of the procession - buildings, land, people - is consecrated by continuous prayer and receives a blessing from a higher clergyman. Great is the help and significance of the procession. Many Church Fathers emphasize their importance and great spiritual power.

The order of the procession

Ahead of the procession they carry a lantern, followed by an altar cross, an altarpiece of the Mother of God, then they go in two rows, in pairs, banner-bearers, singers, priest-bearers with candles, deacons with their candles and censers, and behind them priests. In the last pair of priests, the one on the right carries the Gospel, and the one on the left carries the icon of the Resurrection.

Each participant in the procession must remember that:

The procession is not a pleasure walk, but hard physical and even greater spiritual labor;
Obliged to unquestioningly obey the priest and the leader of the procession;
One must always be spiritually attentive, not to conduct worldly conversations, but to pray;
It is advisable to pray the Jesus Prayer;
Diverse reading in the voice of akathists and prayer canons disturbs the peace of those walking nearby, therefore, for those who love reading them, it is better to read them to yourself;
Try to think not about your own convenience, but about the convenience of those around you, not to get annoyed with your brothers along the way;
During breaks, do not leave garbage: bottles, packaging, paper, etc.
In places of overnight stay, do not burden the hosts with unnecessary requests, think that in next year here someone must be accepted;
Write in advance notes about health and repose for requiems and prayers;
Take a revered icon into use, adapting it for comfortable wearing over a long distance;
Take the necessary medical kit: adhesive plaster, bandage, iodine, cotton wool, tablets. (For example: citramon, ftalazol, etc.);
Be sure to have a hat that protects from the sun, and a warm light jacket or windbreaker for the evening;
Buy tourist rug in sporting goods. Very convenient and practical for halts and overnight stays.
Bring two small plastic bottles for water;
Do not take what you can do without for several days;
Get a replacement kit clean linen for service in churches;
Shoes should be light, if sneakers, then leather, so that the leg breathes. Shoes should not be new, familiar to the foot;
Take little and easily digestible food: nuts, dried fruits;
Necessarily a spoon and a mug; matches, folding knife;
Personal hygiene items;
Two changes of underwear and socks (including warm ones);
Take a light raincoat in case of rain, or a piece of light oilcloth, sufficient to cover yourself;

All things should fit in a backpack or a small shoulder bag.

Do not carry anything in your hands!

Men should be ready to replace those carrying an icon or banner, as well as to help the weak.