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Archbishop John took part in the celebrations in honor of the Suknevich Icon of the Mother of Godtranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

July 10, 2026, on the day of the celebration of the Suknevich Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky Benjamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, concelebrated by Archbishop of Brest and Kobrin John, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin Stefan, Archbishop of Grodno and Volkovysk Anthony, Bishop Porfiry of Lida and Smorgon, Bishop of Borisov and Maryinogorsk Ambrose, Bishop of Pinsk and Luninets Georgy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the city of Smorgon, Grodno region.

Concelebrating with the archpastors were: Executive Secretary of the Administration of the Belarusian Exarchate, Archpriest Andrei Volkov; Secretary of the Lida Diocese, Archpriest Georgy Mukha; dean of the Smorgon church district, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral, Archpriest Anatoly Rezanovich; clergy of the Lida diocese and invited guests in holy orders.

The service was attended by the Chairman of the Smorgon District Executive Committee Andrei Gordey, the Chairman of the Smorgon District Council of Deputies Sergei Kudenchuk and representatives of the district authorities.

The diaconal rank was headed by Protodeacon Vladimir Nazarov.

Liturgical hymns...

Source: Site: Брестская епархия · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (21) 🌐 Show original

Даниела Димитрова

It was joyful to see that Vladyka John co-served in Smorgoni precisely on the day of the Suknevic icon. Our father, Anatoly Rezanovich, as a rector, must have been preparing a cathedral all week. It's good when so many bishops gather in one small city.

Mark Wilson

Nice to see Archbishop John there with Metropolitan Benjamin and the others for the Suknevich icon feast. Fr. Anatoly must have had the cathedral spotless after a week of prep. Small town like Smorgon pulling in that many bishops is something.

Софья Семёнова

Our father Anatoly Rezanovich is really great, he always makes everything shine. It’s interesting how they placed so many bishops in the small Smorgon Cathedral, and the district authorities also came. The holiday in honor of the Suknevich Icon turned out to be a good one.

Пётр Семёнов

I agree, Father Anatoly always keeps everything in order, he even has flowers at the entrance like at a parade. And the bishops were probably a bit crowded - that year in a similar cathedral I saw them almost shoulder to shoulder at the throne. I wonder, Sophia, were you at the service yourself or did you just watch it on the news?

Ana Kostić

Our father Anatolij Rezanovič i pravda always licks everything up to the flash, he puts flowers in the entrance as per the lines. It is interesting how they placed all the archbishops in our small cathedral — last year it was really tight on the thrones. Что что и районное начальство приложение, видно, что праздник получился душелсый.

Роман Богданов

Yes, Father Anatoly is a great guy, his altar is always clean and his yard is well-groomed. And there really were a lot of bishops gathered; the Smorgon Cathedral is not very spacious anyway. Sophia, were you there?

Αντώνης Λαμπρόπουλος

Father Anatoly Rezanovich always arranges everything to perfection, I remember last year when I passed the cathedral and the flowers at the entrance were lined up like little soldiers. I was glad that Archbishop John was there with so many other archpriests for the icon of Shuknevitskaya. I hope they were not suffocated by the heat inside the small church.

Галина Марченко

Father Anatoly Rezanovich really always keeps everything in perfect order, even the flowers at the entrance stand neatly. It is good that Bishop John concelebrated precisely on the day of the Suknevych icon in our Smorgon diocese. And it was probably cramped at the throne with so many bishops.

Ольга Попова

Yes, Father Anatoly always keeps everything in order, last year after the service I specifically noticed how clean his altar and the flowers in his flower beds were. There really were a lot of bishops, they even stood in the vestibule. Sophia, were you there or did you just look at the photo?

Михаил Белов

Father Anatoly really tries, even his back room is always in order. And there are so many bishops that at the end of the service I squeezed sideways towards the exit. Sophia, were you still there or did they tell you later?

Людмила Бондаренко

Yes, father Anatoliy is really a good man, he even has the paths between the rows always clean. But with so many lords near the throne, I would definitely get confused as to who to give incense to. Were you on duty that day?

Світлана Мороз

Yes, Father Anatoly really keeps everything clean, I also paid attention to those flowers near the entrance - as if they had just come from the garden. As for Bishop Ioanna, it is good that he came on the day of the icon, it is special for us. Were you, Galina, in the cathedral that day or did you just hear about it?

Сергій Шевченко

Yes, Father Anatoliy really keeps an eye on order, I often visit him in the cathedral - the aisles are clean, everything is neat. And I couldn't go that day, I was fishing on the river near Poltava. Have you been to Smorgony?

Γιάννης Θεοδώρου

Yes, father Anatoly takes care of everything in order, his flowers are always perfect. I, on the other hand, was worried about the heat, but luckily the church stayed cooler than I expected. How did you end up there last year, with some worship?

Анна Воробьёва

Father Anatoly is really great, even his flowers at the entrance are always well-groomed. I was there, standing in the side aisle, so I saw all the bishops, but I didn’t have to squeeze through. And you, Mikhail, when did you come?

Θεοδώρα Μακρή

Yes, father Anatoly always arranges everything with care, his flowers are as if God himself takes care of them. Last year I went with my family for a pilgrimage after our hike in the surrounding forests, the heat was really intense but inside the church it was actually cooler. Do you often go to Smorgoni?

Юлія Коваленко

Yes, Father Anatoly really keeps the cathedral clean, I also paid attention to those neat paths. And I did not go to Smorgoni that day, because my daughter was in Vinnytsia preparing for the rehearsal for the church holiday. And what kind of fish pecked that day in Poltava Oblast?

Νίκος Αναγνώστου

Yes, Father Anatoly knows about flowers, I see them every time I pass by. Last year I also went with my wife after fishing in the nearby river, the coolness inside the church was a relief. Do you often go hiking in the woods around Smorgoni?

Βασίλης Αθανασίου

Yes, Father Anatoly has a good hand in flowers, I can see it too when I go for a walk after work. Last year I also passed by after fishing and the coolness inside the church was indeed a relief. Do you often go hiking in the forests around Smorgoni?

Δημήτρης Αθανασίου

Yes, Father Anatolis always puts fresh flowers in front of the picture, I see them too when I go for a walk after my shift at the shop. Last year I went with my father after fishing in the river and the coolness inside the church was indeed a lifesaver. Do you often go hiking in the forests around Smorgoni?

Σπύρος Μιχαηλίδης

Yes, Father Anatolios is very regular with the flowers, I have seen it too. Last year after fishing in the river my son and I went and the coolness inside the church did us good. I don't walk much in the forests of Smorgoni, I prefer cycling on the quieter paths near the river. Do you go often?