The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church led the Velikoretsk religious procession. Velikoretsk religious procession The Patriarch will walk a little more than a kilometer in procession
One of the largest, most famous and numerous religious processions in Russia. It has been held in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for more than 600 years. Every year from June 3 to 8, pilgrims from all over the country and the Near Abroad walk the path with the revered Velikoretsk miraculous icon of St. Nicholas. The religious procession annually attracts tens of thousands of people. Associated with him are many testimonies of believers about the miraculous healing and holy help of Nicholas the Pleasant.
The total length of the route is 150 km. The route of the religious procession: the city of Kirov (Vyatka) - the Velikaya River (Velikoretskoye village, Yuryansky district of the Kirov region) - the city of Kirov (Vyatka).
History of the Velikoretsk religious procession
Legend says that in 1383, on the high bank of the Velikaya River, the image of St. Nicholas appeared to the peasant Agalakov. Soon healings and miracles began from this icon. The rumor about the appearance of the miraculous image quickly spread throughout the area, people came to the place where the icon appeared, thanked God for the shrine given to them, and received spiritual consolation and healing. With joint efforts, the peasants built a chapel at the site of the appearance of the icon, and later the construction of a temple began - a more worthy place for the miraculous image.
In the XIII-XIV centuries, Russian people had just begun to settle on the Vyatka land, inhabited mainly by pagan tribes. Concern for the Shrine prompted the Vyatichi in 1392 to move the image from the banks of the Velikaya River to the city of Khlynov (at that time and until 1780, the center of the Vyatka region had that name). The Khlynovites made a vow to bring the icon to the place of apparition every year. Thus was born one of the oldest traditions of the Vyatka land - the Velikoretsk religious procession.
The fame of the wonderful icon reached the capital. In the 16th century, by order of Emperor Ivan IV, the icon was delivered from Khlynov to Moscow. Along the way, the sick were healed and miracles happened. By decree of the tsar, one of the chapels of St. Basil's Cathedral, which was then under construction, was consecrated in honor of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas. Lists were made from the icon. From this time on, the veneration of the Velikoretsk image of St. Nicholas began throughout Rus'.
Until the 20s of the 20th century, the Image of Nikolai Velikoretsky was in the Cathedral of Vyatka, and the religious procession began from here. After the destruction of the cathedral, the icon disappeared. From the 30s to the 90s of the last century, the Velikoretsk religious procession was prohibited, but believers, despite the ban, went to the holy place all the years. In 1999, the centuries-old tradition was revived, and in 2000, by decree of Patriarch Alexy II, the Velikoretsky procession was given the status of an All-Russian procession.
Velikoretskoye and the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
The Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is an image consisting of a centerpiece with a half-length depiction of St. Nicholas and eight picturesque stamps depicting the saint’s miracles. Unfortunately, the original Velikoretsk image was lost during the years of persecution of the Church. Nowadays the religious procession is carried out with its exact list of the 17th century, which is also a miraculous and revered shrine of the Vyatka diocese.
The ancient village of Velikoretskoye is 80 km away. from the city of Kirov. Every year on June 3, a religious procession with the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker takes place here. The place where the miraculous icon was found on the banks of the Velikaya River is marked by a chapel above the holy spring.
On the day of Velikoretsk celebrations, when the image is delivered to the village, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated right on the shore. Believers note that services on this day are always held with great solemnity and grandeur. The singing of the church choir makes the event especially festive.
After the service, the water at the source and on the Velikaya River is consecrated to the sound of bells. Many pilgrims consider it their duty to take a dip in the water. They say that such water is healing, and there is no trace of fatigue left. At the end of the solemn services in Velikoretskoye, the religious procession does not end. Pilgrims face an equally difficult journey back.
Miraculous healings from the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas
Many testimonies about the healing of people from the Velikoretsk Icon have been preserved in written sources. In the archives you can find descriptions of miracles that were witnessed in Vyatka from 1551 to 1647. These are short stories about how many ordinary people received help for serious illnesses after praying in front of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. For example, two of them:
“On January 10, 1558, a certain Orlov’s wife, from the city of Nekrasov Kuklina, who had been blind for thirty weeks, came to the cathedral church, and placed a candle before the miraculous image and through the prayers of St. Nicholas she received her sight and was healthy.”
Or in the same year it was written:
“On May 9, a wife named Matrona Fedorov was brought before the miraculous image of St. Nicholas. I haven’t been able to use my legs for a year, and if you apply it to the miraculous image and drink holy water, you will receive healing.”
In total, more than 200 miracles were preserved in archival records, performed through prayers before the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Their list continues to grow today. With each Velikoretsk religious procession, people's faith in the holy help of St. Nicholas only grows stronger.
The route of the Velikoretsk religious procession will change due to the fact that the beginning of the religious procession this year coincides with Trinity Parents Saturday and Holy Trinity Day.
In this regard, a decision was made to change the route after stopping at the Trinity Church (in the village of Makarie). This year, the religious procession will go along Pavel Korchagin Street towards Comintern Square, then through the crossing and along Iskra Street towards the village of Zaborye. There will be an hour-long halt in Zaborye, and the religious procession will move through the village of Kassiny. There, pilgrims will cross the Podgoryanka-Shikhovo highway and head to the village. Bobino, and then along the usual route.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account that many Kirov residents will go to cemeteries on June 3 to remember their relatives and friends, including Staro- and Novomakarevskoe. To prevent emergency situations and ensure unhindered movement of public transport, pilgrims are not blessed to stop for rest at the turn of Pavel Korchagin Street, as well as on the territory of the Memorial Military Burial Complex of the Great Patriotic War.
The changes will also affect the time of services in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trifonov Monastery. So, on June 3, 2017, the Liturgy in the cathedral will begin at 8.00, a prayer service with an akathist to St. Nicholas (on the street) - at 10:00, and the procession itself will take place at 11:00, which is an hour later than usual.
Velikoretsk religious procession 2017 schedule:
7:00
- memorial service in the Assumption Cathedral.
8:00
— Divine Liturgy in the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Kirov, led by Metropolitan Mark of Vyatka and Slobodskaya.
10:00
— a prayer service with an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the cathedral square of the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery in the city of Kirov.
11:00
- the beginning of the procession from the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery in Kirov.
12:30
— meeting of the procession in the Trinity Church in Kirov.
14:00
— exit of the procession from the Trinity Church in Kirov.
18:30
- meeting of the religious procession in the village. Bobino. All-night vigil.
3:00
- exit of the procession from the village. Bobino.
9:30
- meeting of the religious procession in the village. Zagarye. Divine Liturgy.
12:30
- exit of the procession from the village. Zagarye.
20:00
- meeting of the religious procession in the village. Monastyrskoe.
3:00
— exit of the procession from the village of Monastyrskoye.
9:00
— arrival of the religious procession in the village. Gorokhovo. Divine Liturgy.
12:00
- exit of the procession from the village. Gorokhovo.
16:30
— 17:00
— Bus departure from the St. Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
18:00
— meeting of the religious procession in Velikoretsky Compound. Prayer service to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
18:30
— All-night vigil on the banks of the Velikaya River. Confession.
18:30
— All-night vigil in the Transfiguration Church. Confession.
18:30
— All-night vigil in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
19:00; 20:00; 21:00
1:00
3:00
— Early Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
5:00
— Early Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Church.
6:00
— Middle Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River.
From 6:00 to 8:00— Departure of buses with pilgrims from the St. Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
10:00
— Late Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River.
13:00
— Procession to the source. Blessing of water at the source and on the Velikaya River.
14:00
— transfer of the icon from the bank of the Velikaya River to the Transfiguration Church of the Velikoretsk Compound.
14:00 — 18:00
— prayer services with an akathist before the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Transfiguration Church.
9:00 — 19:00
— departure of buses with pilgrims from Velikoretsky to Kirov (as the buses become full).
1:00
— prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Transfiguration Church of the Velikoretsky Compound.
2.00
- exit of the procession from the village. Velikoretsky.
14:00
- meeting of the religious procession in the village. Medyany. Canon of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas.
17:00
- exit of the procession from the village. Medyany.
19:00
— meeting of the religious procession in the village. Murygino.
3:00
— exit of the procession from the village. Murygino.
4:00
— meeting of the religious procession in the village. Girsovo. Prayer service to Saint Nicholas.
13:00
— meeting of the procession in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (Kirov, Luganskaya, 5a). Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, blessing of water.
14:30
- exit of the procession.
16:30
— meeting of the procession in the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Trifonov Monastery of Kirov. Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas.
18:00
- end of the procession.
The Velikoretsk religious procession is the most ancient, famous, crowded and majestic of all religious processions in the Vyatka land. It begins on June 3 from the Holy Assumption Cathedral in the city of Kirov. The final destination is the village of Velikoretskoye, where prayer services are held in churches and on the banks of the Velikaya River. Thousands of pilgrims from different cities and villages of Russia walk the 180-kilometer path. More than 50 thousand people, including foreign guests, are present at the services in the village of Velikoretskoye.
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Latest news from the Kirov region on the topic:
Velikoretsk religious procession 2017
Velikoretsk religious procession 2017- Kirov
The route of the Velikoretsk religious procession will change due to the fact that the beginning of the religious procession this year coincides with Trinity Parents Saturday and Holy Trinity Day.
20:50 30.05.2017
Kirovchanka.Ru
06/15/2017 Diocese The regional film club, commissioned by the Vyatka Diocese, captured the iconic moments of the Velikoretsk All-Russian religious procession.
06/14/2017 Diocese June 6, 2017, 1st Week after Pentecost, the day of the celebration of the appearance of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia,
06/14/2017 Diocese Only the main events of the past week June 11, 2017. The editors of the Internet portal “City of Kirov.RU” have prepared a review of the most important, interesting and discussed news of the past week.
06/11/2017 GorodKirov.Ru
progorod Medical aid stations were set up along the route of the column of pilgrims. During the Velikoretsk religious procession, pilgrims sought medical help more than 3,000 times.
06/09/2017 ProGorod.Ru photo screenshot from a video on YouTube There is no such priest among the clergy of the Vyatka Diocese. A video has appeared on the Internet of a drunk man in a priest’s cassock.
06/09/2017 ProGorod.Ru
Tradition says that in 1383, on the high bank of the Velikaya River, the image of St. Nicholas appeared to the peasant Agalakov. Soon healings and miracles began from the icon. The rumor about the appearance of the miraculous image quickly spread throughout the area, people came to the place where the icon appeared, thanked God for the shrine given to them, and received spiritual consolation and healing. With joint efforts, the peasants built a chapel at the site of the appearance of the icon, and later the construction of a temple began - a more worthy place for the miraculous image.
In the XIII-XIV centuries, Russian people had just begun to settle on the Vyatka land, inhabited mainly by pagan tribes. Concern for the Shrine prompted the Vyatka residents in 1392 to move the image from the banks of the Velikaya River to the city of Khlynov (at that time and until 1780, the center of the Vyatka region had that name). The Khlynovites made a vow to bring the icon to the place of apparition every year. Thus was born one of the oldest traditions of the Vyatka land - the Velikoretsk religious procession.
The fame of the wonderful icon reached the capital. In the 16th century, by order of Emperor Ivan IV, the icon was delivered from Khlynov to Moscow. Along the way, the sick were healed and miracles happened. By decree of the tsar, one of the chapels of St. Basil's Cathedral, which was then under construction, was consecrated in honor of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas. Lists were made from the icon. From this time on, the veneration of the Velikoretsk image of St. Nicholas began throughout Rus'. The second time the miraculous icon visited Moscow in the 17th century on the orders of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. In 1668, the official day for celebrating the appearance of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas was appointed - May 24 (June 6, new style).
Until the 20s of the 20th century, the Image of Nikolai Velikoretsky was in the cathedral of the city of Vyatka, and the religious procession began from here. After the destruction of the cathedral, the icon disappeared. From the 30s to the 90s of the last century, the Velikoretsk religious procession was prohibited, but believers, despite the ban, went to the holy place all the years. In 1999, the centuries-old tradition was revived, and in 2000, by decree of Patriarch Alexy II, the Velikoretsky procession was given the status of an All-Russian procession.
For more than 600 years, the icon of St. Nicholas has been brought to the place of its appearance - the bank of the Velikaya River. Until 1777, the religious procession was carried out by water along Vyatka and Velikaya on boats and rafts, then it began to take place overland.
The Velikoretsk religious procession is the most ancient, famous, crowded and majestic of all religious processions in the Vyatka land. It starts on June 3 from the Holy Assumption Cathedral in the city of Kirov, goes through the village of Makarye, the villages of Bobino, Zagarye, Monastyrskoye, Gorokhovo. The final destination is the village of Velikoretskoye, where prayer services 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 arrive in Kirov on June 8. Thousands of pilgrims from different cities and villages of Russia walk the 180-kilometer path. More than 50 thousand people, including foreign guests, are present at the services in the village of Velikoretskoye.
The architectural and temple complex of the village of Velikoretskoye, "Velikoretsky Castle", created in the 18th - 19th centuries, is being revived, which includes the Transfiguration Church (1739), St. Nicholas Church (1822-1839), Ilyinskaya Bell Tower (1860), as well as shopping arcades , a living room and four stone two-story houses for the clergy and school (XIX century). A chapel was again built over the holy spring.
7.00 - Memorial service in the Assumption Cathedral.
8.00 - Divine Liturgy in the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Kirov, led by Metropolitan Mark of Vyatka and Slobodskaya.
10.00 - Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the cathedral square of the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery in Kirov.
11.00- Beginning of the procession from the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery in Kirov.
12.30 - Meeting of the procession at the Trinity Church in Kirov.
14.00 - The procession leaves the Trinity Church in Kirov.
18.30 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Bobino. All-night vigil.
3.00 - Exit of the procession from the village. Bobino.
9.30 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Zagarye. Divine Liturgy.
12.30 - Exit of the procession from the village. Zagarye.
20.00 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Monastyrskoe.
3.00 - Exit of the procession from the village of Monastyrskoye.
9.00 - Arrival of the procession in the village. Gorokhovo. Divine Liturgy.
12.00 - Exit of the procession from the village. Gorokhovo.
16.30-17.00 - Departure of buses from St. Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
18.00 - Meeting of the religious procession in Velikoretsky Compound. Prayer service to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
18.30 - All-night vigil on the banks of the Velikaya River. Confession.
18.30 - All-night vigil in the Transfiguration Church. Confession.
18.30 - All-night vigil in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
19.00; 20.00; 21.00 - Departure of buses with pilgrims from Velikoretsky to Kirov (as the buses become full).
June 6, Tuesday
1.00 - Early Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Church.
3.00 - Early Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
5.00 - Early Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Church.
6.00 - Middle Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River.
6.00 to 8.00 - Departure of buses with pilgrims from the St. Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
10.00 - Late Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River.
13.00 - Procession to the source. Blessing of water at the source and on the Velikaya River.
14.00 - Transfer of the icon from the bank of the Velikaya River to the Transfiguration Church of the Velikoretsk Compound.
14.00 - 18.00 - Prayer services with an akathist in front of the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Transfiguration Church.
9.00 - 19.00 - Departure of buses with pilgrims from Velikoretsky to Kirov (as the buses become full).
June 7, Wednesday
1.00 - Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Transfiguration Church of the Velikoretsky Compound.
2.00 - Exit of the procession from the village. Velikoretsky.
14.00 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Medyany. Canon of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas.
17.00 - Exit of the procession from the village. Medyany.
19.00 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Murygino.
June 8, Thursday
3.00 - Exit of the procession from the village. Murygino.
4.00 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Girsovo. Prayer service to Saint Nicholas.
13.00 - Meeting of the procession in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (Kirov, Luganskaya, 5a). Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, blessing of water.
14.30 - Exit of the Procession.
16.30 - Meeting of the procession at the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Trifonov Monastery in the city of Kirov. Prayer service with an akathist to St. Nicholas.
18.00 - End of the procession.
Attention pilgrim
The Velikoretsk religious procession is one of the longest religious processions in Russia. During the five-day journey, pilgrims cover more than 150 km. Therefore, every pilgrim planning to take part in a procession of the cross must remember that a procession of the cross is a church service, fraught with certain difficulties, and all its participants assume certain responsibilities. Please do not engage in worldly conversations, but listen to prayers and pray yourself.
The pilgrim is obliged:
* listen to and follow the orders of the leader of the procession and his assistants;
* receive the priest's blessing to join or leave the religious procession;
* take care of food during the journey for yourself and your loved ones;
* do not forget about the environment and do not throw garbage in the forest;
* carry a personal first aid kit and insect repellent.
Pilgrims are prohibited from:
* make fires in the forest;
* collect donations;
* distribute literature, etc.;
* propagate non-Orthodox teachings;
* drink alcohol and behave indecently.
Changes 2017:
The beginning of the procession this year coincides with Trinity Parents' Saturday and Holy Trinity Day. In connection with this, a decision was made to change the route after stopping at the Trinity Church (Makarya). This year the procession will go along Pavel Korchagin Street towards Comintern Square, then through the crossing and along Iskra Street towards the village of Zaborye. There will be an hour-long halt in Zaborye, and the religious procession will move through the village of Kassiny. There, pilgrims will cross the Podgoryanka-Shikhovo highway and head to the village. Bobino.
Attention! On June 3, many Kirov residents will go to remember their relatives and friends at cemeteries, including Staro-Novomakaryevskoye. To prevent emergency situations and ensure unhindered movement of public transport, pilgrims are not blessed to stop for rest at the turn of Pavel Korchagin Street, as well as on the territory of the Memorial Military Burial Complex of the Great Patriotic War.
List of required equipment
Tourist rug
This is a rug made of a special material, very light, conducts heat very poorly, and is absolutely not wet. The standard size of a rug for an adult is 180x60 cm, thickness 8-10 mm.
Backpack
Preferably a backpack, not a sports bag. Everyone determines the size for themselves, depending on the number of things. In terms of technical characteristics, we can recommend the following:
- the wider the straps, the better;
- very comfortable models with a lumbar belt, which allows you to load the spine more evenly;
- a sufficient number of voluminous pockets with snap locks for items of regular use.
Helpful advice: any backpack can get wet, and therefore the things in it. This can happen not only from rain, but something spilled inside or you put the backpack on grass damp with dew. Therefore, it is recommended to pack all things in a backpack in separate plastic bags.
Shoes
As practice has shown, you can go through the entire religious procession in one pair of shoes, but it is better to have two pairs. It all depends on the properties of your feet and the weather. If the weather is damp and cool, leather sneakers or boots that allow you to walk in mud are best. If it's dry and hot, you can wear cloth sneakers or sandals with heels.
When it comes to regular cotton socks, the more the better. The more often you change your socks, the less likely you are to get calluses. Many pilgrims cover all problem areas on their legs with a band-aid in advance, and this really helps.
General requirements for shoes:
- shoes should fit tightly on the foot;
- shoes must be worn in beforehand if they are new;
- the sole should be soft and preferably thicker, otherwise on those days when the religious procession walks a lot on the asphalt, you can knock off your feet (choose sneakers more carefully: if the sole is made of inelastic material, even if it is thick, you can knock down your feet, and if the soles will fall through the grate, you will rub the calluses).
- if you are going to walk in shoes that you wear in everyday life, you must be sure that they will not fall apart (cases are not uncommon). It is better to immediately insert additional insoles into such shoes so that they fit more tightly on the foot.
Some people wear flip-flops in hot weather - yes, soft, but also individual in terms of resistance to calluses, because... the slippers dangle on my feet.
You can take rubber boots with you. Yes, they are heavy, but they are indispensable for overcoming mud and puddles. Every year, many pilgrims simply leave their boots on the side of the road, since they are heavy and in most cases you can still do without them.
If you take boots as your main footwear for cold and rainy weather, you need to be sure that you can walk in them for a sufficiently long period of time without injuring your feet. The sole of such boots must be thick.
But if you don’t need to overtake everyone, you can walk everywhere along a well-trodden path or along thrown branches in ordinary shoes - after all, it’s pre-arranged and all difficult areas are checked.
Usually, pilgrims in damp places put bags on their feet, some walk barefoot, and occasionally use military chemical protection shoe covers - they are light and compact, but light galoshes are probably best.
Plastic film (or raincoat)
It is best to have a large piece of ordinary plastic (greenhouse) film so that when it rains at a rest stop, you can lie down on a mat with your backpack and cover yourself with it. A film of this size is not heavy, does not take up much space, and allows you to go in the rain, completely covered with your backpack. The film also serves as additional insulation during overnight stays. If your sleeping bag is not very warm, the film will help you stay warmer. However, you can wrap yourself in it both in strong winds and cold during the transition.
The approximate size of the film is a square, the side size of which is equal to your height with your arms extended upward.
Cloth
Clothes should be loose. Mandatory - two leggings or trousers: underpants (to make it comfortable when spending the night at temperatures down to -3 on the ground or while walking at temperatures of +3, +5 with the wind) and light outer ones that are not blown through (sports or camouflage made of cotton fabric) . For women - an overskirt. It is also necessary to have a jacket with a zipper or buttons, so that if it becomes hot or cold, you can unbutton or button it without stopping. You also need a warm sweater. To spend the night in a tent in a sleeping bag, it is better to take a pair of woolen socks and a warm sports hat (thermal underwear).
Headdress
It is better to wear a cap with a visor or a wide-brimmed hat on your head. It is often windy and sunny during the day, and in such weather the nose and ears get very burnt. Experienced pilgrims take sunscreen with them.
At night and early morning hours, when it is cold, it is better to wear a warm sports hat, especially for children.
Sleeping bag
If there are no reliable places to stay overnight, you can’t do without it, especially in a tent. If you buy a sleeping bag in a store or rent it, please note that it must withstand temperatures down to 0 degrees. If it gets colder, you can insulate yourself with plastic wrap.
Water container
1.5 liter plastic bottle (or flask): at a rest stop you want to drink tea, wash your hands, and collect holy water in Gorokhovo. This is especially true on the way from Zagarye to Velikoretsky and when returning from Velikoretsky to Vyatka (then the weather is warmer, and on large stretches of the route there are simply no settlements where you can get water).
Money. Minimum 500 rubles per person, better 1000.
Other necessary things
1.unbreakable cups;
2.kettle;
3.spoon, knife;
4.soap,
5.toothbrush,
6.toothpaste,
7.toilet paper
8.special wet wipes for washing hands and feet.
9. iodine, brilliant green, cotton wool, bandage;
10.medicines if you have chronic diseases;
11. The patch is regular and bactericidal.
12.scissors;
13.elastic bandage, if there are problems with the joints;
14. mosquito and tick repellents;
15.sunscreen or sunburn ointment;
16.handle,
17.notebook;
18. cell phone and charger (MTS, Megafon and SkyLink operators are available in Velikoretsky).
Additional equipment
(these things may make your procession easier):
1.sunglasses;
2. a folding luggage cart, very convenient on the first and last day, when the path is on asphalt, but sometimes you will have to carry it on yourself in mud and fields.
3. a portable kerosene or gas kerosene stove - it is very convenient to quickly heat up food and tea without lighting a fire (you can only burn fires during a religious procession in certain places). It weighs a little.
4. portable walkie-talkies - to keep in touch with each other and not get lost if you are walking in a large group (cellular communications do not always work due to lack of access area or overload). Instead of walkie-talkies, you can take colored flags and put them on poles, as an option.
5. tent - will save you from problems with overnight accommodation, especially since modern tents are very light and compact.
Work is also underway on the banks of the Velikaya River. This year it was decided to renovate the chapel of St. Nicholas, where the main services are held. The builders have already repaired the wooden doors, replaced and painted the steps. Soon the walls of the building will be painted in the same color scheme as the chapel above the source and the font.
This year, the celebrations on the Velikaya River will be led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. In this regard, security measures will be strengthened throughout the entire temple complex and on the banks of the Velikaya River. Pilgrims are asked to be understanding about the changes and possible inconveniences.
On his visit to the Vyatka Metropolis, Patriarch Kirill will lead the celebrations of the All-Russian Velikoretsky religious procession, and will also visit the Assumption Cathedral of the St. Tryphon Monastery.
Let us recall that it was previously reported that in the Velikoretsky courtyard of the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery on June 6, 2017, Patriarch Kirill will lead the Divine Liturgy and perform a prayer service before the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The service will take place on the banks of the Velikaya River at 9.30. It became known that His Holiness will also visit the Assumption Cathedral of the Trifonov Monastery.
Schedule of the Velikoretsk religious procession in 2017
7.00 Memorial service in the Assumption Cathedral.
8.00 — Divine Liturgy in the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Kirov. The Liturgy is headed by Metropolitan Mark of Vyatka and Slobodskaya.
10.00 — Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the cathedral square of the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery in Kirov.
11.00 — Beginning of the procession from the Holy Dormition Trifonov Monastery
12.30 — Meeting of the procession at the Trinity Church in Kirov.
14.00 - The procession leaves the Trinity Church.
18.30 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Bobino. All-night vigil.
3.00 — Exit of the procession from the village. Bobino.
9.30 - Meeting of the procession in the village. Zagarye. Divine Liturgy. Great Vespers with reading of kneeling prayers.
12.30 — Exit of the procession from the village. Zagarye.
20.00 — Meeting of the procession in the village. Monastyrskoe.
3.00 – Exit of the procession from the village. Monastyrskoe.
9.00 — Arrival of the procession in the village. Gorokhovo. Divine Liturgy.
12.00 — Exit of the procession from the village. Gorokhovo.
16.30-17.00 — Bus departure from the Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
18.00 — Meeting of the religious procession in Velikoretsky Compound (Velikoretskoye village). Prayer service to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at St. Nicholas Church.
18.30 — All-night vigil on the banks of the Velikaya River. Confession.
18.30 — All-night vigil in the Transfiguration Church. Confession.
18.30 — All-night vigil in St. Nicholas Church. Confession.
19.00; 20.00; 21.00 — Departure of buses with pilgrims from the village of Velikoretskoye to the city of Kirov (as the buses become full).
1.00 – Early Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Church.
3.00 — Early Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Church.
5.00 — Early Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Church.
5.30 – Middle Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River.
6.00 to 8.00 - Departure of buses with pilgrims from the Seraphim Cathedral in Kirov to the village. Velikoretskoe.
9.30- Late Divine Liturgy on the banks of the Velikaya River. The Liturgy is led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.
13.00 — Procession to the source. Blessing of water at the source and on the Velikaya River.
14.00 — Transfer of the icon from the bank of the Velikaya River to St. Nicholas Church (Velikoretskoye village)
14.00 – 17.00 prayers with an akathist before the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the St. Nicholas Church.
17.00 – 18.30 — Evening service in St. Nicholas Church. After the evening service, the transfer of the icon of St. Nicholas to the Transfiguration Church.
9.00 – 19.00 — Departure of buses with pilgrims from the village of Velikoretskoye to the city of Kirov (as the buses become full).
1.00 - Prayer service with akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Transfiguration Church of the Velikoretsky Compound.
2.00 — Exit of the procession from the village. Velikoretskoe.
14.00 — Meeting of the procession in the village. Medyany. Canon of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas.
17.00 – Exit of the procession from the village. Medyany.
Probably, this event itself and my description of it will cause different emotions, thoughts, questions and disputes. But this phenomenon exists, and I want to talk about it.
When we were traveling to Kirov, we imagined this event as something similar to a festival or holiday that is regularly held in the city and where priests walk around churches in processions, musicians perform, choirs sing, everyone is treated to traditional delicacies, etc. and so on. But everything turned out to be much stronger and deeper.
Believers have always gone on pilgrimages. I'm not talking about modern pilgrims who travel in comfortable buses and buy icons and, in general, everything that is sold in holy places. I'm talking about those who walked and walk to Jerusalem, Santiago, Kiev Pechersk and Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Someone probably thought about the Way of Santiago, which has recently become a tourist route. Many, even going there as tourists, realize something along the way that radically changes their lives. Not to mention those people who go there purposefully and get what they ask for. But now we will talk about something more powerful, in my opinion. About the Velikoretsk religious procession. The procession of the cross, in my mind and probably in the minds of many, more often goes around the church, or, for example, over some short distance. But the Velikoretsk religious procession is 150 km long and lasts for several days. In addition, all this happens not in the southern regions of Russia, where it is dry, warm and lilacs bloom, but in the Vyatka province, where lilacs also bloom, but temperatures at night in June tend to 0, and at times it rains.
But first, about the origin of the religious procession.
In 1383, the image of St. Nicholas appeared on the banks of the Velikaya River. Miracles began to work from the icon. The peasants built a chapel, and then a church. The times and places were hard, so the icon was moved to Vyatka, and they vowed to bring the apparition to the place every year. The icon visited Moscow twice, and one of the side chapels of St. Basil's Cathedral was consecrated in its honor. At first, the religious procession took place “by water” along rivers, and from the 17th century. became land-based.
The icon that is now being carried is a revered copy of the miraculous icon, and the icon of Nicholas itself mysteriously disappeared when the temple where it was located in the 20s of the 20th century. handed over to be desecrated.
Photo from the Internet 
In Soviet times, people also went to Velikoretskoye, they were caught, returned back, but the next year they went again.
And the religious procession was revived in 1989.
Travel route
Route and sailing schedule (I just don’t know what year) ( Photo from the Internet)
Now about the scale of the event: as I already wrote, believers have to walk 150 km, and the most difficult is the second day, when they have to walk almost 50 km. I myself walked 50 km a day only once, and I understand how difficult it is. And if you imagine that both elderly people and children are walking, and from 3 o’clock in the morning - this is already a feat. Part of the route goes along dirt roads, and I think you understand what wet clay is like after a group of people have passed through it. And a group of people in the case of the Velikoretsky Stroke is neither more nor less - thousands of people.
Photo from the Internet 
Last year there were, it seems, about 36 thousand, this year - 20 thousand.
The weather played a role: for 3 days people walked in almost constant rain, at a temperature of about 10 degrees. Unfortunately, we did not see how they walked; we saw the pilgrims only in Velikoretskoye on June 6, when they participated in the festive liturgy in the morning and then rested. But what glowing faces everyone had! It was as if the 90 km through mud and rain never happened.
A few technical details. Pilgrims come from all over Russia; in Vyatka they live in tents on the stadium grounds. June 3 The religious procession begins from the Cathedral in the Assumption Trifonov Monastery, goes to the village of Makarye along the highway, the Akathist is served there, and then the procession turns onto a dirt road.
Trinity Church in the village of Makarie 
On the first day they walk 15 km, on the 2nd day - the most difficult - about 50.
Photo from the Internet
Moreover, the morning rise is at 2-3 am. Pilgrims carry tents and sleeping bags with them. In villages, schools and cultural centers are also opened for overnight stays; many residents invite pilgrims to their homes. Many groups of pilgrims who come in an organized manner with their priests have something like a car escort, i.e. their tents are already waiting for them in the parking lots.
Each parking lot has dry closets, a field kitchen and water. The entire route and especially overnight stays are treated against ticks, which is very important for the Kirov region.
The pilgrims are accompanied by the Ministry of Emergency Situations with walkie-talkies (cellular communications are scarce where they work), and if something suddenly happens, such as a sprained leg, etc., the victim is taken on an ATV to the asphalt road, where an ambulance is on duty.
This religious procession was almost the most difficult in many years due to weather conditions, but the people I spoke with are already planning to go again next year. They describe an amazing climb, when they all walk together, sing the Akathist to St. Nicholas, and all the churches along the route greet them with the ringing of bells.
On June 6, there are festive services in Velikoretsky, and then the pilgrims rest, and then leave on June 7. A few photos of what we saw on the evening of June 6 in Velikoretsky.
St. Nicholas Church
Transfiguration Church
Huge tent camp
Some cities are very organized
In general, there are tents everywhere
Along the path to the river there is an impromptu market, pilgrims can buy something they need or not)
Great River
The clearing where the Liturgy takes place and the church-altar
Font and source
In Soviet times, when the move was prohibited, various legends arose, for example, that the icon was found on a pine tree and if you crawl under the roots of the pine tree, you will be lucky) Nowadays no one seems to crawl, but they tie ribbons.
People come from everywhere, for example, a bus from the Stavropol Territory.
At the Kovcheg guest house, the owner hosts a bunch of people; people sleep on beds, on the floor, and in tents in the yard. By the way, the house itself is very cozy, and if you come here not during a religious procession, then there is peace and quiet, and you can easily relax for a week in the lap of nature, go for mushrooms, especially saffron milk caps, which are famous throughout Russia.
In my impression, almost the entire city took part in the procession. Here and there we heard talk about him. In Velikoretskoye we met an amazing woman who, together with her husband and several pensioners, is restoring the village of Oshet, creating the Vasnetsov route there and also preparing wonderful cheese. But that is another story. To be continued)
