On the eve of the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ, a traditional press conference was held at the residence of Archbishop Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha.
Vladyka drew a peculiar line under the past year, naming its main events. First of all, this is the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the revival of the Vitebsk Orthodox diocese, restored in 1992 by decision of the Bishops' Council by disaggregating Polotsk.
By the way, at that time Abbot Dimitry was the Bishop of the most ancient Polotsk cathedra, who headed and has been leading the Vitebsk diocese for a quarter of a century.
Turning to history, Archbishop Dimitry noted that in the early 90s of the last century, only nine churches operated on the territory of the diocese and 12 clergymen worked, and in the regional center there was the only church in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
Today there are 150 temples, two male and four female monasteries. Divine services are performed by 200 priests. This year, for the first time, the Christmas Liturgy will be held in the Church of the Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow, which appeared in the new microdistrict of Vitebsk - Bilevo.
Vladyka will lead the festive service at the Holy Dormition Cathedral, from where the Vitebsk TV and radio company will broadcast live.
Here at 12 o'clock there will be a cathedral Christmas prayer service for all the clergy. In other churches, the All-Night Vigil will also begin on January 6 at 17:00, the Divine Liturgy - on January 7 at midnight and will be repeated for those who cannot come at night, at 8 or 9 in the morning.
As the head of the diocese explained, preparations for one of the main Christian holidays began several months in advance. It included Christmas readings, Orthodox talks, meetings with young people, visits to large families, hospitals, orphanages, and places of detention.
Diocesan departments are doing a lot in this regard: missionary, social orientation, cooperation with the penitentiary committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, youth affairs, and in particular the Orthodox youth brotherhood of St. John of Kronstadt, as well as the regional association of Orthodox women. This work is activated on Christmas days, and special attention is directed to socially unprotected people who need help.
The head and clergy of the Vitebsk diocese were present at the final diocesan meeting, which was held in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
In January, the Russian capital will host international Christmas readings, which will also be attended by representatives of the Vitebsk region. Their theme is "Moral Values and the Future of Mankind".
The exhibitions “Family Icon”, “Christmas Motifs”, which opened in Vitebsk, are dedicated to the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ.
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For the first time, the choir of the Theological Seminary will take part in the regional celebration of sacred music and will perform on the stage of the Kolasovsky Theatre. On Old New Year's Day, which falls on a Sunday, children are invited to the Christmas tree. The holiday will take place in a picturesque place - on the basis of the Orthodox camp "Friendship".
As the archbishop emphasized, Christmas is a holiday of mercy and kindness. The head of the diocese wished everyone to celebrate the bright birthday of the Savior with pure thoughts, with an open soul and love.
Photo by Dmitry Osipov.
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Vitebsk and Orsha diocese- diocese (administrative-territorial unit) of the Belarusian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The territory of the diocese includes the eastern part of the Vitebsk region with the center in Vitebsk. A bishop is at the head of a diocese.
After the Polotsk Council of the Uniate clergy of Russia (1839), which decided to reunite with Orthodoxy and due to the fact that there were much more Orthodox in Vitebsk than in Polotsk, the Polotsk bishops from 1839 spent most of their time in Vitebsk. Polotsk Bishop Isidor (Nikolsky; 1837-1840) settled in the Vitebsk Markov Monastery.
In 1905, the Bishops' House owned:
In 1856, the Polotsk Theological Seminary was transferred to Vitebsk, located in the buildings of the former Basilian Monastery, in 1872 the seminary became known as Vitebsk.
In 1864, a school for clergy girls was opened in the city.
Since 1874 they were published in Vitebsk under the guidance of the rectors of the Vitebsk Theological Seminary.
After the establishment of Soviet power, the publication was closed, revived in 1995.
In 1904, there were 35 churches in Vitebsk, including St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Assumption City Cathedral. By 1917, there were 155 churches in the Vitebsk district.
In 1918-1920. in Vitebsk, the DS, theological schools and Markov Holy Trinity Monastery were closed. Church valuables were confiscated in churches.
In April 1922, Archbishop Innokenty (Yastrebov) of Polotsk and Vitebsk was arrested. The absence of the bishop at the cathedra, as well as the arrest of Patriarch St. Tikhon (in May 1922) intensified the activities of the Renovationists, and on August 24, 1922, the 1st Renovationist Congress was held in Vitebsk. In September of the same year, the Renovationist bishops in Moscow in the "Bishop of Polotsk-Vitebsk" was "consecrated" Fr. Konstantin Zaprudsky. Since that time, both bishops loyal to the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and renovationist bishops have lived in Vitebsk.
In 1923, under the pretext of non-payment of taxes, the Assumption Cathedral and the Holy Spirit Church were closed in the city. By the beginning of 1930, 14 churches remained in the Vitebsk district.
In 1931-1932, almost the entire Orthodox clergy of Vitebsk, headed by Archbishop Nikolai (Pokrovsky) of Polotsk and Vitebsk, was arrested.
In 1936, 16 out of 17 functioning churches were closed in Vitebsk, the Holy Resurrection (Market) Church, the Holy Assumption Cathedral and many other churches were blown up. By 1938, not a single functioning church remained in Vitebsk. The diocese ceased to exist.
The honorary title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region-2012" was awarded for active social work in the spiritual education of the people, participation in the revival of the cultural and historical values of the Vitebsk region, unceasing concern for the parishes of the diocese entrusted to him.
In July 1989 hegumen Dimitry (Drozdov) was appointed Bishop of Polotsk and Vitebsk. In July 1992, in connection with the restoration of the episcopal see in Vitebsk, he was appointed Bishop of Vitebsk and Orsha. In 1999 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
Archbishop Dmitry in January 2008 was awarded the Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus "For Spiritual Revival". In June 2010 at the Kiev Theological Academy he defended his dissertation on the topic "Vitebsk diocese: history and modernity." Awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology.
Since the restoration of the Vitebsk diocese, churches and spiritual life have been revived by the unceasing cares and labors of Archbishop Demetrius. In recent years, the number of parishes in the diocese has increased to 164, and clergy to 179. Six monasteries have been revived: the Holy Epiphany Kuteinsky Monastery in Orsha (1992); Holy Assumption Convent in Orsha (1997); Holy Trinity Markov Monastery in Vitebsk (2000); Holy Spirit Convent in Vitebsk (2001); Holy Intercession Women's Monastery in Tolochin (2004), Holy Dormition Women's Monastery in the village of Sloboda, Vitebsk region (2011). There are 5 brotherhoods and 26 sisterhoods. In Vitebsk, the Holy Intercession Cathedral, the Holy Annunciation Church of the 12th century, the Holy Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, which are outstanding architectural monuments, have been restored. New temples are being built. In 2012, the newly built Church of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Spirit Convent in Vitebsk was consecrated. In the city of Vitebsk, the spiritual nourishment of believers takes place in more than 35 churches. Among them - hospital, prison, brownies.
Realizing the importance of spiritual education in the revival of church life, in 1996 the Vitebsk Orthodox Theological School was revived and began to operate, in 2011 it was transformed into the Vitebsk Theological Deminary, and the Vitebsk Theological School was transferred to the city of Orsha at the location of the Orsha branch. Since 2002, the theological department has been operating at the Vitebsk State University at the Faculty of History. Since 2001, on the basis of the children's health camp "Druzhba", an Orthodox children's health camp in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Education" has been opened.
In 2004, a program of measures was signed to implement the "Agreement on Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian Orthodox Church" in the Vitebsk region, which made it possible for even wider interaction between the Church and the state in the following areas: in the field of education and upbringing, culture and creative activity, protection , restoration and development of historical and cultural heritage, in the field of health care, environmental protection, development of sports and tourism, social protection, charitable activities, assistance in strengthening the family, motherhood and childhood, cooperation with the media, prevention of offenses and violations of life safety rules, care for persons in places of deprivation of liberty and who have served their sentences.
In order to preserve and study the historical memory of the Belarusian people in the Vitebsk diocese, since April 21, 2005, a church and archaeological office has been operating, in which educational, methodological, religious, educational and research work is being carried out. Since 2005, research work has been carried out in the Vitebsk diocese in the archives to study the biographies of clergy and clergy, as well as all those who suffered for their faith. Based on the results of the research, the “Vitebsk Martyrology” was published, and on November 4, 2007, Hieromartyr Nikolai (Okolovich) and Confessor Vladimir (Elenevsky) were glorified as saints of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
As part of the cooperation between the Church and the State, the Vitebsk Diocese annually hosts Christmas exhibitions, concerts and meetings, Sretensky educational readings in Vitebsk, the Easter Festival in Vitebsk, and the Hodegetria International Orthodox Festival.
In 2012, Archbishop Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha headed the Public Council for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. As part of the celebrations, a number of events were held in the Vitebsk diocese dedicated to the celebration of the glorious anniversary: international conferences, seminars, improvement of burial sites.
In September 2012, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812, a cross-monument near Ostrovno was consecrated by Archbishop Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha. In November 2012, a solemn prayer service was held at the Holy Assumption Cathedral in honor of the liberation of Vitebsk from Napoleonic troops. Then, near the monument to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 in Vitebsk, a funeral service was held for our ancestors, who repulsed the invasion of Napoleon's army. On the same day, a press conference was held at the Vitebsk Theological Seminary - a presentation of a book dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 and called the poetic line of the participant in the Belarusian battles of the poet Fyodor Glinka "Love calls to the Fatherland!". The book was published by the Moscow information and publishing center "To the Light".
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, Archbishop of Vitebsk and Orsha Dimitry was awarded the jubilee medal "In memory of the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812".
Archbishop of Vitebsk and OrshaDimitri(Drozdov Nikolai Grigorievich) [Photo] // Vitsebsk workers. - 2013. - 31 students. - S. 13.
(in the world Nikolai Grigorievich Drozdov)
Born on January 22, 1953 in Bobruisk. In 1972 he graduated from the Bobruisk Woodworking College, in 1978 from the Moscow Theological Seminary, and in 1982 from the Academy. Since 1977 he was a novice at the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, in 1978 he was tonsured a monk and ordained a hierodeacon, and in 1984 a hieromonk. Since 1984 he has been the confessor of the brethren of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
He was elevated to the rank of hegumen in 1986.
By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod of July 6, 1989, Abbot Dimitry (Drozdov), confessor of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, was determined to be Bishop of Polotsk and Vitebsk.
On July 22, 1989, after an all-night vigil in the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk, the naming of hegumen Dimitry was made by: His Beatitude Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East Ignatius IV, Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Belarus, Archbishops of Mogilev and Mstislav Maxim, Vladimir and Suzdal Valentin, Bishops Gabriel of Larisa, Exarch of Australia and New Zealand (Patriarchate of Antioch), Constantine of Pinsk and Brest, Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch under the Patriarch of Moscow.
On July 23, 1989, on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost, at the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Zhirovichi Monastery, His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius and His Grace Bishops, who participated in the naming, consecrated Hegumen Dimitry as Bishop of Polotsk and Vitebsk.
On July 7, 1992, he was appointed Bishop of Vitebsk and Orsha.
On February 18, 1999, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church of December 30, 2008, he was appointed chairman of the newly formed BOC Department for Cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the Department for the Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia of October 10, 2013, he was appointed rector of the representative office of the Belarusian Exarchate in Moscow.
By the decision of the Synod of the BOC dated November 11, 2013 () he was appointed director of the newly opened Vitebsk Theological School.
By the decision of the Synod of the BOC of June 26, 2014 (magazine No. 36), he was relieved of the post of the Synodal Department of the Belarusian Exarchate for Prison Ministry.
On July 18, 2019, on the feast of the finding of the honest relics of St. Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, at the end of the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in the Throne Room of the Patriarchal Chambers of the Lavra presented Archbishop Dimitri with a commemorative panagia - in attention to diligent archpastoral labors and in connection with the 30th anniversary of the hierarchal consecration.
The archpastors were co-served by the clergy of the Smolensk Metropolis and guests in holy orders who arrived for the feast. The Bishops' Choir of the Assumption Cathedral sang at the Liturgy (regent - Elena Frolova). The service was broadcast live on the website of the Smolensk Metropolis, on the YouTube channel of the Smolensk diocese, and on the website of the Assumption Cathedral.
The temple was attended by: the governor of the Smolensk region A.V. Ostrovsky, the head of the city of Smolensk V.A. Sovarenko, Rector of Smolensk State University M.N. Artemenkov, representatives of the administration of the Smolensk region and the city of Smolensk.
Praying at the Liturgy were students of the Smolensk theological schools, abbesses and nuns of the monasteries of the Smolensk Metropolis, participants in the 16th International Hodegetria Cross Procession from Vitebsk, sisters of mercy of the Smolensk Sisterhood in honor of the Hodegetria Icon of the Mother of God, Smolensk residents and pilgrims. Law and order during the celebrations was supported by the Cossacks of the Smolensk city Cossack society.
At the end of the Liturgy, a procession with the miraculous Smolensk Icon was made around the cathedral.
Upon returning to the cathedral, Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk, Metropolitan Sergius of Ternopil, and Bishop Seraphim of Peterhof, rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, addressed the audience with words of greeting.
During the holiday in Smolensk, according to tradition, the III festival of bell ringing "Odigitrievsky" was held. Within the framework of the festival, a workshop "Traditions of bell ringing: history and modernity" and summing up the results of the bell ringing courses held in the Smolensk diocese from July 10 to August 9 this year were held. The festival concert was attended by ringers from all the dioceses of the Smolensk Metropolis, as well as guests from Moscow, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Minsk and Polotsk. Honored guest of the holiday, O.V. Okuneva, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, noted the importance of holding a bell ringing festival in Smolensk.
Creative groups from Smolensk, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Vitebsk and other cities of Russia and Belarus took part in the big Odigitrievsky concert near the walls of the Assumption Cathedral. A book exhibition, a fair of applied arts "City of Masters", workshops for children and adults on making folk dolls and traditional Smolensk clay toys, weaving and working at the potter's wheel were organized on Cathedral Hill.
Information service of the Smolensk diocese/Patriarchy.ru
