Metropolitan John celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the day of remembrance of the Don Icon and his birthday at the Kholkovsky Monasterytranslated

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, on September 1, the day of remembrance of the Don Icon of the Mother of God and his birthday, Metropolitan John arrived at the Holy Trinity Kholkovsky Monastery, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Don Icon of the Mother of God. The head of the Belgorod Metropolitanate was met at the church by young cadets who congratulated Metropolitan John on his birthday. In turn, the archpastor wished the children God's help in the new academic year. As a blessing for their studies, Vladyka presented the schoolchildren with icons of the Mother of God. The joy of the holiday was shared at the Divine Liturgy on this day by Bishop Savva of Valuysk and Alekseevsk, Bishop Abel of Gubkin and Grayvoron, and the deans and clergy of the metropolis. After reading the Holy Gospel, Metropolitan John addressed the worshipers with an archpastoral word. In his sermon, the bishop recalled the history of the revival of the monastery, which began in difficult years, “when it was impossible to understand various political trends in this chaos.”

He told how “three churches and a monastery building for the brothers were erected among the chalk mountains,” and emphasized that “all this happened as a spiritual, powerful and creative movement...