The patronal celebrations took place in the Church of the Intercession in Derbenttranslated

On October 14, 2026, on the Feast of the Intercession of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Archbishop Varlaam of Makhachkala and Derbent led the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Church in Derbent.

On the eve of the holiday, Archbishop Varlaam celebrated an all-night vigil in the Assumption Cathedral of Makhachkala.

During the Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by the secretary of the diocese, Priest Pavel Kalikin, the rector of the Intercession Church, Priest Mikhail Lobov, and the clergy of the Assumption Cathedral.

After reading the Gospel, the bishop addressed those gathered with a word.

According to the special litany, the archpastor read a prayer for Holy Russia, offered in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

At the funeral litany, a prayer was offered for the repose of the ever-memorable Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, the long-time rector of the Intercession Church, who accepted martyrdom on June 23, 2024.

The sermon on the sacramental verse was delivered by Priest Mikhail Lobov.

After the Liturgy, a religious procession took place around the church. At the grave of Father Nicholas, buried behind the altar of the church, Archbishop Varlaam read the Gospel and proclaimed eternal memory...