Yakutsk, September 27, 2013
The guests will come not only from Russia, but also from Georgia, Belarus, the Ukraine, Poland and Azerbaijan. All of them will take part in the Church and public anniversary events, reports the official website of the Diocese of Yakutsk and Lensk.
Bishop Roman of Yakutsk and Lensk noted at the press conference that this anniversary was celebrated in order to draw the attention of residents of the republic to these glorious and important events: the 350th anniversary of the oldest monastery in northeast Russia, the Monastery of the Savior in Yakutsk, the 240th anniversary of the Church of the Mother of God in Yakutsk, the 150th anniversary of the Yakutsk theological seminary, and the 20th anniversary of restoration of the Diocese of Yakutsk and Lensk.
"Moreover, we want to express our deep gratitude to the people who labored to restore the Churches of the northern land. Over the last two decades, 65 churches and the same number of chapels were built. Church life has been restored in every respect. Educational, missionary, social work that is being done in the Diocese, was formed during this very period," said the Hierarch.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the ancient and much-venerated wonder-working Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, which for around 400 years has been kept in the Pochaev Lavra, one of the centers of Orthodox life in the Ukraine, has been brought to Yakutia. From today's (Sept. 27) evening to the main day of the anniversary celebrations, this icon will be staying in the Transfiguration Cathedral. And on October 6, the feast-day of St. Innocent (of Irkutsk), a solemn Divine Liturgy will be served with the assembly of Hierarchs concelebrating (something unique), and the faithful of the capital of Yakutia will proceed with the icon in a Cross procession from the Transfiguration Cathedral to the monument to St. Innocent.
Among other major events there are: the research and practical conference, "Mission of Orthodoxy in the cultural space of Yakutia"; release of the second edition of the restored first newspaper of the republic, "The Diocesan Bulletin of Yakutia"; the publication of two books—the renewed translation of the Bible for children in the Yakut language, and To the North Through the Centuries, written by the famous poet, journalist, doctoral candidate of philosophy Irina Dmitrieva.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, two new churches will be consecrated: on October 5, the St. George Church in the village of Zhatay, and on October 7, the St. Nicolas Church in the town of Vilyuysk.
The city residents and guests will also be able to attend a poetry festival, a grand celebratory concert in the Russian theatre, and other events.
