Several hundred Orthodox pilgrims are on their way to Diveyevo Monastery in time for the feast of its beloved elder, St. Seraphim of Sarov.
A procession left from the nearby Pavlovo on July 24 and will cover a distance of about 72 miles, arriving at the monastery on Sunday, July 30. The feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of St. Seraphim will then be celebrated on August 1.
The procession began with the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Ascension Cathedral in Pavlovo. On the banks of the Oka River, the prayer march was joined by pilgrims from the neighboring Gorodets Diocese, the monastery reports.
It also includes pilgrims from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tver, Syktyvkar, and other Russian cities.
Along the way, the participating priests serve molebens and sprinkle the people with holy water, while the pilgrims carry icons, including the main holy images of the procession—the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God and an icon of St. Seraphim.
There are several overnight stays arranged for the pilgrims along the way.