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Metropolitan Alexy led the citywide all-night vigil on the eve of the day of remembrance of the Hieromartyrs Alexander Miropolsky and Peter Smorodintsevtranslated

July 6, 2026 · 1 min read

On the evening of July 5, on the eve of the day of remembrance of the holy martyrs Alexander Miropolsky and Peter Smorodintsev, members of the Cathedral of Saints of the Chelyabinsk Metropolis, Metropolitan Alexy of Chelyabinsk and Miass led a citywide all-night vigil with litia in the lower church of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were: the custodian of the St. Simeon Cathedral, Archpriest Vladimir Manichev, the head of the social department of the Chelyabinsk diocese, Pavel Kurbatov, and a host of clergy of the Chelyabinsk diocese. The Bishop's male choir "Axios" sang at the service under the direction of regent Alexander Khakimov.

Tomorrow the Church will also honor the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in memory of the salvation of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480. During the service, an akathist to the Vladimir Icon was read.

During the polyeleos, glorification of the holy martyrs was performed. The ruling bishop anointed the parishioners with blessed oil.

In his sermon, Hieromonk Artemy (Stupnikov) spoke about the life path and feat of the holy martyrs Alexander Miropolsky and Peter Smorodintsev.

“These saints were our fellow countrymen, they lived next to our relatives and friends, and they suffered for Christ in times of hardship. We must never forget about them...

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

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Сергій Кузьменко

God bless you for your service. It is interesting that the hieromonk Artemiy began his sermons precisely with the fact that these holy martyrs lived next to our compatriots - this is the closest thing. The akathist of the Vladimir icon is also good to read, especially before tomorrow.

Степан Лисенко

I agree, Serhiy, it is the fact that they lived next to ours that affects me the most. I myself am from Chelyabinsk, and when I heard about their years in the 30s, I thought that it could have been in our area. Akathist was also appropriate, especially before the day of the icon.

Matthew Adams

Спасибо за службу. Хорошо, что отец Артемий начал проповедь именно с того, как эти священномученики жили рядом с нашими земляками в 30-е — сразу чувствуешь, что это не где-то далеко. Акафист Владимирской иконе тоже в тему, особенно перед завтрашним праздником.

Stephen Walker

Спасибо за службу. Особенно запомнилось, как о. Артемий начал проповедь с того, что священномученики жили рядом с нашими родными в 30-е — это действительно близко. Акафист Владимирской иконе тоже кстати, перед завтрашним днём.

Γιώργος Δημητρίου

Thanks for the service. It's good that Father Artemy started preaching precisely because these holy martyrs lived next to us in the 30s — you immediately imagine that it could have been on a nearby street in Chelyabinsk. The Akafist of the Vladimir icon was also read before tomorrow's day.

Grace Hall

Спасибо за службу. Особенно зацепило, как о. Артемий начал проповедь с того, что священномученики жили рядом с нашими в 30-е — представляю, как они могли ходить по тем же улицам, что и мои бабушка с дедушкой в Челябинске. Акафист Владимирской иконе тоже вовремя прочитали перед завтрашним днём.

Michael Carter

Yes, Father Artemy's point about them being our local guys from the 30s really hit home — makes the whole story feel a lot less distant. I also liked how the akathist to the Vladimir icon tied right into the next day's feast; it gave the whole vigil a nice flow. Did you stay for the anointing?

That part about them walking the same streets as our grandparents really stuck with me too. My wife's grandmother lived right off Kirovka in the 30s, so it hits close. Did you catch the bit in the sermon about how they kept serving even after the arrests started?