700th Anniversary of the Birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh
2014 marks 700 years since the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Festivities dedicated to this significant event are taking place across the country. On July 16-18 the celebrations took place in Sergiyev Posad and Hotkovo.
On July 16 a 14.5 km cross procession started at Khotkovo nunnery where the parents of Sergius of Radonezh, Cyril and Mary, had taken the tonsure and had been buried. The procession ended at The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. On the same day the prayer procession came to the pilgrimage town set on the Annunciation field in Sergiev Posad, where an all-night vigil was held.
On July 17 two liturgies, prayers to St. Sergius and small vespers were held there. An all-night vigil was then held in Cathedral Square of The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. On July 18, the day of uncovering the relics of St. Sergius, liturgies were held on the Annunciation field and in Cathedral Square.
The festival of spiritual and patriotic music started in Krasnogorskaya square in Sergiyev Posad and then moved to Soviet square which became the venue for many activities and performances, such as the bell-ringing concert, the exhibition center City of Crafts with its creative competitions and master classes on traditional crafts, folk culture festival Russian Doll, outdoor festival Toy in the Russian culture, a festival dedicated to the Russian tradition and modern family, and many concerts.
A series of guided tours was arranged in Konny Dvor museum complex. There the visitors could see the exbition of the 15th- the 21st century works of art dedicated to St. Sergius. Besides, the guests of the festival could take part in animated and concert programs, master classes and quests. Entertaining activities for kids and master classes on traditional crafts were organized in front of the Palace of Culture. In the Palace itself the guests could watch theatre companies of the Moscow Region performing on the stage.
As part of the youth festival, numerous performances, the art market, educational and sports master classes, playgrounds and innovation areas were organized in one of the parks. The youth historical reenactment clubs festival was also held there. The event encompassed master classes of handling medieval weapons and performances of the reenactors themselves, the highlight being the reenactment of Dmitry Donskoy’s druzhina gathering before the Battle of Kulikovo.
Several information centres for tourists and pilgrims were opened for the time of the festivities.
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