Moscow, July 16, 2014
A Divine Liturgy, a children’s prayer service and a children’s cross procession with special petitions for peace in the Ukraine and Russia as well as a litia for repose of children, killed during combat operations in the southeastern Ukraine, took place at St. Alexis Monastery in the Yaroslavl region, reports RIA-Novosti with the reference to the All-Russian association of large families and families with adopted children of Russia, “Many children is good!”
The organization together with “The Orthodox patriotic association of women” interregional public movement took a lead in the unusual event.
“We hope that the Lord will hear the children’s prayers soon and will grant the Ukraine and its people peace, mutual understanding, prosperity, brotherly love to each other and that pure souls of the slain children are interceding before the Lord’s Throne and will help us in our prayer for peace in the Ukraine,” stressed the organizers.
Over 250 children took part in the action, held with the blessing of Metropolitan Panteleimon of Yaroslavl and Rostov with the support of the Synodal Department for the Church and Society Relations. In total, about 300 people prayed for cessation of the bloodshed.
Pupils of the Orthodox classical school at St. Alexis Monastery, students of the military school and children from large families of Moscow, Pereslavl-Zalessky as well as their parents proceeded with Icons of the Mother of God “Peschanskaya”, “Alexeevskaya”, Icons of Venerable Alexis, “the Man of God” and Holy Innocents of Bethlehem in memory of the children killed in Sloviansk, Lugansk and other cities and villages of the southeastern Ukraine. 40 candles were lit and kneeling prayers for peace, prosperity and removal of all evils were offered up.
The St. Alexis Monastery is situated in the Novoalexeevka village of the Pereslavl-Zalessky district of the Yaroslavl region. It was founded in 1891. There is an orphanage for more than 200 children, at the monastery. Under the direction of the monastery brethren the children take part in annual summer archaeological excavations in the Crimea. An Orthodox classical school was opened at the monastery in 1996, and a military school in 2001.
