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Divine Liturgy at the Bishop's Metochion - the church in the name of the holy unmercenaries and wonderworkers Cyrus and John in Ulyanovsktranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 11, on the day of the transfer of the relics of the martyrs, unmercenaries and wonderworkers Cyrus and John, the celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God called the “Three-Handed One,” Metropolitan Longin of Simbirsk and Novospassky celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Bishop’s Metochion - a church in the name of the holy unmercenaries and wonderworkers Cyrus and Ioanna of Ulyanovsk.

His Eminence was served by the secretary of the Simbirsk diocesan administration, the dean of the third Simbirsk city district, Priest Roman Solodko, Archpriest Svyatoslav Erenkov, the rector of the church, Priest Andrei Kiryushkin, the head of the protocol service of the Simbirsk diocesan administration, Priest Valery Stavrovsky, Deacon Ioann Kosyakov, and Deacon Grigory Shevchenko.

At the end of the Liturgy, a religious procession was held, the Kolivo was consecrated, and many years were proclaimed.

During the service the Bishop's male choir of the Simbirsk Metropolis sang under the direction of the regent, Priest Andrei Chizhov.

Source: Site: Симбирская епархия · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (32) 🌐 Show original

Snežana Kostić

The church of Kira and Ioanna is always so bright on this day. It's good that Vladyka Longin served together with Father Andrei Kiryuškin and Roman Solodko. And the choir under the direction of Father Andrey Chizhov sang in a special tune, and it was heard on the streets after the cross walk.

Ștefan Stan

The service was beautiful, I read with joy. I am glad that Vladyka Longhin served together with Father Andrei Kiriushkin and Father Roman Solodko, and the choir of Father Andrei Chijov was heard even outside after the procession. In our parish, they sing less, but it's still a comfort.

Mária Horváthová

It's nice that Vladyka Longin served with his father Andrei Kiryushkin and Roman Solodko. Here in Prešov, we always bake a cake with honey and nuts for Kýr and Ján, so I immediately remembered that while reading. Father Andrej Čižov's choir must have been really strong when it could be heard outside.

Matthew Adams

The choir really carried that one—heard them clear after the cross procession, just like Snežana said. Nice to see Vladyka Longin serving with Fr. Andrei Kiryushkin and Fr. Roman Solodko at the Cyrus and John church again. Our garden club is bringing kolivo next week for the parish feast, hope it turns out half as good.

Constantin Tudor

I am also glad that Vladyka Longhin served with Father Andrei Kiriushkin and Father Roman Solodko, I saw the pictures from the cross after the Liturgy. Here in Chisinau, the choir rarely sings outside, but when it happens it feels different. Were you at work or did you just read?

Любовь Морозова

In Rostov we also always bake kolivo for Cyrus and John, only with more raisins. It’s nice that Vladyka Longin served with Father Andrei Kiryushkin and Father Roman Solodko, as last time. The choir of Father Andrei Chizhov is really strong, since even on the street after the procession you could hear it.

Maria Ciobanu

I'm also glad that they served together, it was a good day. I didn't go to work, I just read and saw the pictures afterwards. In Chisinau, how is it usually with the choir outside, more often in the summer or only on certain holidays?

Vladimir Ilić

Snow White, just like that, the church was bright and full. Father Andrei Kiryushkin is always an attentive host, and Father Chizhov's choir really sounded clean even on the street. Did you manage to try the kolivo after the liturgy?

Ilie Stoica

I am also glad, Constantin, that you saw the pictures of the cross after the Liturgy - you can feel the joy in them. I didn't go to Ulyanovsk, I just read the article, but here in Sibiu, the choir goes out more often in the summer, at the feasts. Have you ever been to a service with the choir outside in Chisinau?

I'm glad that you also felt the service from outside after the procession, here in Chisinau the choir rarely comes out, but when it does, everything seems to connect differently. At your parish, they sing less, you say - what do they sing at the Liturgy, the troparion or more Irmose?

Gheorghe Munteanu

I'm also glad you got the outside job after the procession. Here in Constanța, the choir rarely goes out, but when it does it feels different, as if closer to the people. In our parish, they mainly sing the troparion and the main hymns, not much from the Liturgy. In Chisinau, how is the repertoire usually?

Надежда Семёнова

In Nizhny on Kira and Ioanna, we also always have raisins, but they don’t add too much so that the rice doesn’t stick together. But the fact that Vladyka Longin again served with Father Andrei and Father Roman is really noticeable, as if a circle had already been formed. Did you hear the choir on the street after the religious procession? This rarely happens here, usually only inside the church.

Teodora Ionescu

Here in Chisinau, the choir sings almost the entire Liturgy, including the Cheruvic and the Axion, but at the outside services after the procession, they come out less often, only at big feasts. At our parish, the priest prefers to keep the repertoire simpler so that the elderly can also participate. In Constanța, does your choir sing the troparion outside every Sunday or only on occasions?

Григорий Макаров

In St. Petersburg, at such services, we also often cook kolivo with raisins, but the rice is cooked separately so that it does not get overcooked. And they definitely noticed about the circle around Vladyka Longin - Father Andrei Kiryushkin and Father Roman are already like permanent co-workers. The choir almost always sings on our street after a religious procession, especially if the weather permits, the voices carry far. Does Vladyka often come to Nizhny?

Irina Dumitrescu

Here, in the choir of the church in Chisinau, we sing the Cheruvic and the Axion inside, but outside after the procession only at the great patron saint of Saints Chir and John, when the metropolitan also comes. Our priest also keeps the repertoire simple, so that the elders don't just remain obedient. In Constanța, is the tropar outside sung every Sunday?

Corina Rusu

Here, at the parish in Chisinau, the troparion is sung outside after the procession only for the patron saint, just like you when the metropolitan comes. Our priest also likes the simple repertoire, so that the elders sing with us, not just listen. In Constanța every Sunday? Interesting, I didn't know.

Владимир Петров

In Nizhny, we always have Kira and Ioanna with raisins, but we put it in moderation so that the rice doesn’t stick together. It is pleasant that Vladyka Longin again served with Father Andrei and Father Roman - this time as a permanent circle. And Father Andrei Chizhov’s choir is truly powerful, even if you could hear it on the street after the procession.

Cristina Ionescu

Here, at the parish in Cluj, the choir sings the Cheruvic and the Axion in the church, but outside after the procession only at the great patron saint of Saints Chir and John, when the bishop also comes. Our priest keeps the repertoire simple for exactly the same reason, so that the elders can also sing "It's right." In Constanța, the troparion outside is sung only on special occasions, not every Sunday.

Simona Tudor

Yes, Ilia, I also noticed that joy in the pictures of the cross after the Liturgy, as if you can feel the summer air. Here in Bucharest, the choir rarely goes out, only at the great patron of the parish, and it's completely different. Did you ever sing in that choir from Sibiu in the summer, outside?

Florin Stan

Here, at the parish in Iași, the choir sings the Cheruvic in the church, but outside after the procession, only at great feasts, as was the case with you with the metropolitan. Our priest keeps the repertoire simple for exactly the same reason, so that the elders don't just sit as spectators. In Constanța, the troparion outside is sung every Sunday, not just on special occasions.

Yes, Ilia, I also enjoyed reading about that Liturgy in Ulyanovsk, especially the part with the male choir led by Father Andrei Chisov. Here in Chisinau, the church choir only goes out for Easter and the Great Feast, not every summer. Did you often sing outside in Sibiu or only at a few celebrations?

In our country, at regular services in Chisinau, the choir sings the Cheruvic only in the church, and almost never outside after the procession, only at great feasts. Our priest does the same, he keeps the repertoire simple so as not to tire the elders who are standing. In Constanța, it sounds nice that the troparion is sung outside every Sunday, how do they manage with the bad weather in winter?

Роман Лебедев

In Yaroslavl, we also put raisins on the kolivo, but always a little at a time, so that the rice doesn’t turn into porridge. I agree, Lord Longinus already has such a permanent circle of co-workers - it’s nice to see. And Father Andrei Chizhov’s choir is really strong; we wouldn’t have such a voice when we were fishing 😂

Daniela Florea

At our parish in Bucharest, the old ladies keep asking to sing "It's right" after the procession, even if the priest tells them that the repertoire is simpler. It seems wise to me what you are doing in Cluj, so that no one is left out. At the great feast of Saints Chir and John, the bishop rarely comes to us, but then the choir comes out in a completely different way.

Анастасия Попова

In Moscow, we also add raisins to kolivo, but always a handful so that the rice remains crumbly. I agree, Lord Longinus already has his own proven team, this is clearly visible. And I definitely noticed about Andrei Chizhov’s choir, their basses are especially strong, you rarely hear such things at our parish singing.

Cristina Gheorghiu

Here in Iași, at the Sunday services, the choir sings the Cheruvic only in the church, and almost never outside after the procession, only at big feasts, exactly as you say. Our father also keeps the repertoire simple, so that the old people don't sit for nothing and get tired. In Constanța, I think it's nice that they have the tropar outside every Sunday, but here I think it would take too long.

Here, in Chisinau, after the procession the old women still ask "It's right" in the old version, even if the liturgical repertoire is more limited. I understand what you are saying about the choir from Cluj, that at the patron saint of Saints Chir and John and here, when the hierarch comes, the singers mobilize differently. Do you think old ladies get upset if you propose a simpler, but still beautiful version?

Alexandru Radu

At our place, for the chants from the church choir in Craiova, we also keep the repertoire simpler for the usual processions, so as not to tire people, especially the elderly. But at the great sanctuary of Saints Cyrus and John, when I was once on a pilgrimage, I liked how they took the Cherubim out after the cross. Do you think it would be good to try it in Iași at least a few times a year, on more important holidays?

Alexandra Ciobanu

Here in Chisinau, the old women really stick to the old version of "It's right", especially after the cross. I, for one, would suggest a simpler version only if I see that they are tiring on their voices, but I usually let them sing what they have known for a lifetime. What version would you specifically suggest to them, something from the repertoire from the patron saint of Saints Chir and John?

At the feast of Saints Chir and Ioan, we used the shorter version of "Cuvine-se" from voice 8, the one that our men's choir also sings. It's easier for old women who stand for a long time without losing their essence. Have you ever tried it with them in Chisinau or do you still leave the long one?

Larisa Tudor

At the feast of Saints Chir and John from Ulm, I saw how the old women from the small choir held the long version of "Cuvine-se" from voice 8, but they breathed hard after the cross. I would also suggest the short one by Andrei Chișov, the one our men sing, because it's easier to keep up. Have you ever tried them in Chisinau?

Andrei Ciobanu

At our place, at the services in Cluj, we also keep the Cherubic simpler when there is a long procession, so that the old people from the pension do not get tired. But your idea of taking it out after the cross seems to me suitable for large patronages, such as that of Saints Cyrus and John. Do you think that in Craiova you have tried other songs from this repertoire at the holidays?