On September 18-20, 2026, the XIII Diocesan Afanasyevsky bicycle ride “Monasteries and Churches of the Native Land” took place.translated

On September 18-20, 2026, the XIII Diocesan Afanasyevsky bicycle ride “Monasteries and Churches of the Native Land” took place. 45 people took part in it under the leadership of Priest Mikhail Mandrik, cleric of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov. On September 18, on the day of remembrance of the Holy Martyr Athanasius, Abbot of Brest, after the Divine Liturgy at the St. Athanasius Monastery, Metropolitan Benjamin blessed the participants of the bike ride. On the first day, bicycle pilgrims visited the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (a.g. Bolshie Motykaly), the St. Paraskevinskaya Church (village of Sychi), the church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (village of Volchin) and the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Vysokoye). The rector of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Archpriest Anatoly Medvedyuk, Mother Elena Medvedyuk, the sisterhood and the youth very cordially welcomed the bicycle pilgrims and spent a soulful evening with prayers, conversations, music and songs, delicious food and accommodation for the night. On the second day, the participants of the bike ride visited the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (d.

Verkhovichi), holy place “Grushka”, Church of the Apparition of the Mother of God (village Bushmichi), Church of the Exaltation of the Cross (village Omelenets), Church of the Rozhkovskaya Icon of the Mother of God (village Rozhkovka).…