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Bishop Ignatius concelebrated with the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus at the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross in Polotsk Monasterytranslated

September 27, 2026 · 1 min read

On September 27, on the day of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the late Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross was led by Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archbishop Theodosius, Honorary Rector of the Parish of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in Novopolotsk, Bishop Ignatius of Polotsk and Glubokoe, clergy of the Savior Euphrosyne Monastery.

The diaconal rank was headed by Protodeacon Vladimir Nazarov.

Liturgical chants were performed by two choirs of sisters of the monastery under the direction of nun Fevronia (Barmicheva) and novice Sofia Levko.

The sermon on the sacramental verse was delivered by Priest Alexander Kreidich.

At the end of the Liturgy, a prayer service, procession and glorification of the holiday were performed.

Then Metropolitan Benjamin congratulated all those praying on the holiday and addressed a word of edification. The Patriarchal Exarch recalled the words of the festive kontakion: “...to the namesake of Your new residence, grant Your bounty, O Christ God...”. So the Church today turns to Christ and asks to grant mercy to His new people, who bear His holy name, that is, Christians. "For those...

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Олександр Ткаченко

Thank you for the news. It was pleasant to read that Archbishop Ignatius served with Metropolitan Veniamin precisely on the Feast of the Ascension, and the sermon was given by Father Alexander Kreidych. The nuns' choir always sings well in this monastery, especially when two choirs sing together.

Юлія Шевчук

Yes, and I liked that Bishop Ignatius concelebrated on this particular day. And Father Oleksandr Kreydych always speaks so simply and to the point that even in the kitchen you remember his words afterwards. The choirs are really wonderful, especially when they are together - it is as if the whole monastery is praying with one voice.

Jelena Marković

I am glad that Archbishop Ignatius celebrated Vozdvizhenie together with us in this assembly. Father Alexander Krejdic once said something similar about the "new people" after a service, and I repeated it at home when we broke the festive pastry. The choir nuns truly sound as if the entire family is breathing with one breath.

Степан Лисенко

Yes, Father Alexander really knows how to say a few words that then keep swirling around in your head when you are preparing borscht or fixing wiring. And the choir together—truly, it seems like the entire monastery breathes as one. Julia, do you often visit the Polotsk Monastery?

Галина Панченко

It's nice that you paid attention specifically to Father Oleksandr Kreydych - his sermon is really memorable, after the service I told my neighbor at home how he explained about the "new people". And two choirs together is always a special prayer, as if the whole monastery breathes in one beat. Do you often visit the Polotsk Monastery?

Юлія Гончар

It is nice that you mentioned the day of the Exaltation for the co-service of Bishop Ignatius. And Father Oleksandr Kreydych really knows how to explain the "new people" so simply that I was still thinking about it on the bus after the prayer service. Do you visit this monastery often?

Jovan Savić

Yes, it was nice to see Bishop Ignatius there at the Ascension. Father Aleksandar Krejdić also knows how to explain these things about the "new people", once after the service in Pollock he told me something similar, so I remembered it. And the sisters' choirs really sound like the whole monastery is one soul, I heard them last year too.

Галина Марченко

Yes, that's exactly what Father Oleksandr says - without exaggeration, and then suddenly his words come to mind in the beet beds. And the choirs really sing together as if the whole monastery is singing with one heart. Julia, do you visit a particular church with your sisters more often or just on major holidays?

Людмила Шевченко

Yes, that's exactly what Father Oleksandr says - simply and to the point, and then it goes around in your head when you're sniffing beets. I also remembered the choirs of the sisters, especially how they pull together, as if really in one breath. And you, Galina, do you often visit Polotsk or do you visit Vinnytsia churches more often?

Юлія Коваленко

Yes, Father Oleksandr really knows how to say things in such a way that later in the garden his head spins. I also liked how the sisters sang - as if really in one breath, especially "To Your Cross". And the last time I was in Polotsk was before my daughter's vacation, two years ago, now I stick to Vinnytsia churches more.

Леся Ткаченко

Yes, that's exactly what Father Oleksandr says - without much else, and the words come out by themselves when you chop the beets or knead the dough. I was also touched by the sisters' choirs, especially how they carried "Your Cross". And you, Lyudmila, do you sometimes go to such distant monasteries from Poltava or do you stay in your churches more?