Pilgrimage trip to St. Petersburg and the island of Valaamtranslated

With the blessing of Bishop Ignatius of Polotsk and Glubokoe, a pilgrimage trip to St. Petersburg and the island of Valaam took place from June 6 to 10. In the first days of the trip, 40 pilgrims from the Polotsk land visited the main Orthodox shrines of the northern capital of Russia and its environs.

The travelers visited the majestic St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt, where they were able to see the magnificent decoration of the church and venerate the shrines. We learned the history of the creation of this architectural masterpiece and prayerfully honored the memory of the fallen Russian sailors.

On the day of remembrance of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, pilgrims visited the Saint’s Chapel, one of the most visited places in the Smolensk cemetery, where believers turn for prayerful help and healing. Polotsk pilgrims were also able to pray to Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg and venerate her relics.

The next shrine for pilgrims to visit was St. John’s Stavropegic Monastery on Karpovka. Here the pilgrims became acquainted with the life of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, prayed and venerated the relics of the holy saint.

Next, the path lay to the main spiritual monastery of St. Petersburg - the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra.…