The Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God was honored in Staraya Belitsatranslated

On July 25, 2026, on the day of the celebration in honor of the Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God, His Eminence Stefan, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin, led the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Staraya Belitsa.

The ancient image of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed” is kept in the St. Nicholas Church. According to legend, the icon has been here since the construction of the church.

In 1937, the temple was destroyed and church property was destroyed. Parishioner Polina Shumova saved the icon from destruction and preserved it. In 1944, after the resumption of services, the shrine was returned to the temple.

During the Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by the dean of the Gomel regional church district, Archpriest Artemy Krivitsky, and the rector of the church, Priest Dimitry Zagoruev.

During the service, intense prayer requests for the restoration of peace were offered.

After the prayer behind the pulpit, Archbishop Stefan performed glorification before the revered image of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”.

At the end of the Liturgy, the bishop addressed the clergy and parishioners with an archpastoral word. The Archbishop recalled the history of preserving the icon during the years of persecution of the Church and noted the loyalty of the parishioners, thanks...