Velikoretsky religious procession: route and reviews

Since the illumination of our country by the light of Orthodoxy, the grace of God is not running out, being shown by the Lord through the miraculous icons of His servants. They keep holy Russia from the enemies of the visible and invisible. For this they are popular among the people by universal love and veneration. One such icon is the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas. In honor of it every year one of the most populous and long religious processions takes place - the Velikorets religious procession. But before we talk about it, we will get acquainted with the history of this wonderful image.

Wonderful acquisition of the icon

Tradition says that it was long ago - six centuries ago. One day a resident of Vyatka region, a pious farmer Semyon Agalakov walked along the banks of the Velikaya River. He went about his household affairs, when he suddenly saw a light in the middle of a thicket of thickets. It seemed that in the forest more often, someone burned church candles. In a hurry she took Semyon and, crossing himself, he hastened his step. However, on the way back, passing the same place and again seeing the wonderful light, he could not restrain himself and entered the thicket. Mysterious fires unexpectedly faded, and his gaze was presented by the image of Saint Nicholas, slightly shimmering with the reflections of antique silver.

With reverent trembling, having taken the relics in his hands, Semen Agalakov brought her to his village of Velikoretskoe. And immediately after the prayers, numerous miracles began to occur before her. Rumor about them quickly spread to the surrounding villages, and an inexhaustible stream of pilgrims reached out to Semyon's hut. Since then, universal veneration of the Velikoretsky image began.

The relocation of the icon to the city of Khlynov

The peasant's house could not accommodate all pilgrims, and soon, with the blessing of the local Vladyka, a wooden chapel was built. The place for it was chosen on the bank of the river Velikaya, right where the miracle-working image was found. But in those years it was uneasy in the Vyatka lands. From the forest thickets, pagan tribes made their raids. They brought a lot of grief to the Russian people. Therefore, for security reasons, it was decided to transfer the icon to the city of Khlynov, but on the condition that every year they would return it to the place where it once appeared to a peasant passing by.

Since that time the Velikorets religious procession began its history. During the year the icon of St. Nicholas was kept in Khlynov - the center of the Vyatka region. At first she was in a church built in honor of St. Prokopy Ustyug, but soon it was specially built for her, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which became the main city cathedral. A holiday was established - the day of the relic's attainment - on June 6 (ns). The history of the Velikorets religious procession begins precisely with these annual processions of parishioners and clergy to the place of the miraculous finding of the icon.

Travel miraculous image in Moscow

I managed to visit a wonderful image in Moscow, where, at the behest of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, it was delivered in 1555. With a bell ringing, in the presence of the tsar and the higher clergy, I met the first-century Velikaretsky icon. Famous now for the whole world the temple of St. Basil the Blessed on Red Square in those years was still being built, and by the ruler's command one of its limits was consecrated in honor of the icon of St. Nicholas. In these years, in connection with his wide veneration, many lists were written with a miraculous image.

This icon was visited in Moscow and in the beginning of the XVII century. This time, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, who recently ascended the throne, was called by her. The country was still experiencing the grave consequences of the Time of Troubles, therefore it was necessary to raise the spirit of the people. And again there was a bell ringing, and the bowed heads of the bishops, and the thousands of people on their knees. And this time the Lord showed His mercy - the country found strength for further life.

The onset of the period of God-fighting

So for centuries the icon of Saint Nicholas, found on the bank of the Velikaya River, was the spiritual symbol of the Vyatka land. But the twists of the 20th century did not bypass it. With the onset of the period of the God-fight, many temples and monasteries were closed, but authorities did not dare immediately ban the festive processions. And right up to the beginning of the thirties the Velikoretsky procession was still arranged, but in time it was also banned.

By this time, the disappearance of the most miraculous icon also applies. The trail of her was irretrievably lost. As the icon mysteriously appeared, it abandoned its sanctuary. Since then, only lists that were made in due time in large numbers remained from it. But, by the way, many of them were glorified by their miracles.

The Beginning of New Times

When, with the onset of perestroika, the attitude of power to religion changed, attempts were made to revive the Velikoretsky procession. In 1989, permission was received for worship on the banks of the river, but the authorities did not dare to allow the procession in full. However, they found a compromise - they were allowed, but only from the nearest village of Chudinovo. But this was already the beginning of change.

Finally, the long-awaited day came, when the Velikoretsky religious procession, the first after decades of atheistic obscurantism, set out on its way. Kirov, the former Vyatka, saw off the procession of pilgrims and clergy. Ahead of them he moved to the river Velikaya - the place of his miraculous finding - the image of St. Nicholas. As it is impossible by the way the former experience of pilgrims was useful. On the Velikoretsk cross procession, many of the evidence of its previous participants remained. In addition, archival documents and literature sources helped.

The main event of the spiritual life of Vyatka region

Today, an annual holiday on the banks of the Velikaya River becomes the main event in the spiritual life of the region. Annually, on June 6 more than fifteen thousand pilgrims from all over Russia take part in it. It has become a tradition that on this day the festive liturgy is personally attended by Metropolitan Vyatka and Slobodskaya Chrysanthus. Among the guests of the celebration you can see not only the representatives of the higher clergy, but also the main officials of the region, led by the governor.

All the worship on this day is accompanied by the singing of the bishop's choir. At the end of the Liturgy, accompanied by the sound of bells, the pilgrims are sent to the source on which the order of the water consecration takes place. Here, holy baptism is accepted by all who wish to connect their lives with God. Went into the tradition and ablutions in a specially equipped bath for this.

Spiritual spirit during the procession

Especially it should be noted that the situation is elevated, but at the same time prayerful concentration, which along the whole length of the path is accompanied by the Velikoretsky procession. The feedback of its participants is evidence of this. Even young people, who in large numbers follow in the general procession, for which it is quite natural to desire to have fun and have fun, behaves with restraint and in full accordance with the seriousness of the moment.

I must say that it is not an easy matter to make such a transition. The route of the Velikorets cross procession is drawn up in such a way that its participants spend five days on the road. Three days the procession moves from the city of Kirov in the direction of the village of Velikoretsky, to the place of the celebrations. Along the way, prayers are performed in all the large villages. For local residents, this is the main event of the year. The return journey takes two days, and presents complexity already by the fact that physical fatigue affects.

The Velikoretsky procession - the path to national origins

It is very interesting to read the reviews of pilgrims. Velikoretskiy religious procession, of which they were participants, caused most of them to feel the unusual unity and unity of Orthodox people of different ages and different social strata. What happened during these five days spent on the road was just the embodiment of the idea of national unity.

Neither propaganda speeches nor loud slogans were required. All united the great shrine of Orthodoxy. The term "national sources" ceased to be only a newspaper wording. He embodied and took quite tangible forms in the form of a summer day, gleaming golgues in the sun and this endless mass of people going to where the Lord gave people the miraculous image of His servant six hundred years ago.