Celebrations were held in the Tatarstan Metropolis in honor of the Akhtyrka Icon of the Mother of Godtranslated

July 16, 2026 · 1 min read

Celebrations were held in the Tatarstan Metropolis in honor of the Akhtyrka Icon of the Mother of God Orthodoxy in Tatarstan

Source: GN: Diocese of Kazan · Read the full story →

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Radu Constantinescu

Glory to God! I read that there were services and procession with the icon in Kazan. Here in Iași, at the cathedral, we also have ours, but we rarely take it outside. Did they play the old tropes or use something new?

Bogdan Radu

Glory to God! In Kazan they used the old tropes, I read them too. Here in Sibiu, at our church, we take ours out in procession just for the patron saint, with the same old song. Do you think it would be good to take it out more often in Iasi?

Ilie Popa

Thank God that the old tropes are preserved in Kazan. Here in Bucharest, at our parish, we take ours to the procession just for the patron saint, like you do in Sibiu. Do you think that in Iași it would help more if they did it monthly, or would it lose its significance?

Petru Dumitrescu

Yes, the old tropes have a power of their own, one feels. Here in Timișoara, at the church of St. Ilie, we take ours to the procession just for the patron saint, but we have noticed that people gather more heartily when we rarely see it. Do you think that in Iași it would be better monthly or every day so that they don't get used to it too much?

Ioana Stoica

I think that in Iași it would be better to have a patron, like you in Timișoara. I have also seen how more people gather with an open heart when the icon comes out rarely, not monthly. How about, have you noticed at St. Elias if people stay longer after the procession when they leave it?

Irina Dumitrescu

I think that in Iași it would help if they took it out monthly, but carefully so that it does not become a mechanical habit. Here in Chisinau, when we tried more often with the icon of the patron saint of the church, people came less after the third time, as if they were getting used to it. What do you say, Ilie, at your parish in Bucharest do you feel that the patron saint procession gathers more people precisely because it is rare?

Andreea Stoica

I think you're right, Ioana, at St. Ilia's, people stay longer after the procession, precisely when we rarely take it out, as a blessing. Just like you, it seems to come together differently, more quietly. Did you go to the procession from Iași this year?

Bogdan Tudor

Here in the parish in Cluj, when we take out the icon more often than once a year, exactly what you say from Chisinau happens: after the second or third procession, the world drops significantly. I think Irina is right, rarity helps it remain an event. Did you also notice this at the icons of the patron saint in Iasi or only at the one in Chisinau?

Florin Stan

No, I didn't get to Iași this year, I stayed with the girl at home because she had a cold. But here at St. Ilia, exactly as you say, after the procession the people stay longer, as if it feels different when the icon only comes out of the church. Have you also noticed that more young people are gathering than before?

Daniela Popescu

At our parish in Bucharest, when we take out the icon just for the patron saint, people come with more joy and prepare ahead of time. If it were done monthly, I think he would lose weight, like in Chisinau that Irina says. What do you think, Elijah, have you ever tried to take it out on other Sundays?

Nicolae Constantinescu

Yes, the old tropes do have their weight, you're right. Here in Iași, at the cathedral, we only take out ours for the patron saint and we have seen that people come more willingly, they don't get used to it. At St. Ilia, after the procession, do you still talk to someone or do you go straight to fishing?

Constantin Tudor

In our parish in Chisinau, we took it out once and on the second Sunday of the fast, but really the people came less prepared and with less enthusiasm. I think Daniela is right, once a year at the church she keeps that weight. Have you tried to make a longer procession with her in Bucharest?

Petru Munteanu

At our parish in Iași, the priest brings out the patron saint icon only once a year, and even then mostly the elderly and a few families with small children come. I think Irina is right, if you take it out monthly it becomes like a Sunday habit and the line thins out. You saw how it is in Chisinau with the older icons, do people get used to them as quickly?

Ilie Nistor

In our parish in Bucharest, the father brings out the icon of the patron saint only twice a year, at the feast and at the patron saint, and still enough people come, especially those who really care. I think Irina is right, the monthly habit really thins the interest, like in the subway when you pass by the same cross every day. Have you been to Chisinau recently or have you heard from someone?

Cristian Lungu

I think you are right, Irina. In our parish in Constanța, the priest takes out the patron icon only once a year, and then young people who otherwise don't visit the church often come. If you take it out monthly, after the second time it seriously thins. For you in Chisinau, do you think it would help to change the route of the procession so that it remains interesting?

Petru Dumitrescu

Here in Timișoara, we kept it to only one procession a year, for the patron saint, because otherwise people get tired and come with a less open heart, as you say. I don't know if you tried in Chisinau to take it out to Sfânta Maria Mare as well, when it's warmer and people are more willing to go. Do you think it would help?

Radu Nistor

Here in Craiova, we kept it to only one procession a year, for the patron saint, because otherwise it goes to waste and fatigue increases. Did you still try to take it out to the Holy Cross in September, when fasting is easier to take? Maybe people will come with a different mood then.

Petru Constantinescu

Here in Constanța, the father brings out the icon of the patron saint only at the feast and at the patron saint, as in your place in Iași, and more people come who are really looking for it. I was once in Chisinau to the monastery with the old icon of the Mother of God and I saw that after the first months of the lunar outing, the familiar faces really became rare. Do you think it would help if there was a short procession through the yard instead of taking it out into the church?