Archbishop Stefan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Intercession in Rechitsatranslated

The Divine Liturgy in the parish of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Rechitsa on August 21, 2026, on the day of remembrance of the Tolga Icon of the Mother of God, was led by His Eminence Stefan, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin.

His Eminence was served by the secretary of the Gomel diocese, Archpriest Georgy Alampiev, the dean of the Rechitsa district, Archpriest Alexey Peshko, the rector of the parish, Archpriest Nikolai Efimenko, and the clergy of the district.

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

The Tolga Icon of the Mother of God was revealed in 1314 to the Rostov Bishop Prokhor on the banks of the Volga, near the confluence of the Tolga River. At the site of the appearance of the image, the Tolgsky monastery was subsequently founded. There are many testimonies of help and healing associated with the icon, and the image itself remains in the Tolga monastery today.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Stefan addressed the clergy and parishioners with an archpastoral word and congratulated those gathered on the reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

In consideration of his pastoral efforts, His Eminence Stefan awarded the rector of the parish of the Church of St. Euphrosyne in the Polotsk village of Ozershchina, Rechitsa district...