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Archbishop Stefan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Twelve Apostles in Ag. Chirkovichitranslated

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 13, 2026, on the day of the celebration of the Council of the glorious and all-validated 12 Apostles of Christ, a bishop’s service was held in the Church of the Holy Twelve Apostles in the agricultural town of Chirkovichi.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Stefan, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin.

His Eminence was co-served by the dean of the Svetlogorsk district, Archpriest Alexander Kisel, the rector of the parish, Priest Alexey Kaposhko, as well as the clergy of the Svetlogorsk deanery and the Gomel diocese.

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

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a procession of the cross was held around the church, after which the clergy and believers glorified the holy, glorious and all-praised 12 apostles of Christ.

Concluding the service, Bishop Stefan congratulated the communicants on their reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and gave the archpastoral blessing to all present.

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

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💬 Comments (32) 🌐 Show original

Петя Костова

Thank God that Vladyka Stefan came to Chirkovichi precisely on the throne holiday. It was remembered how after liturgies all together they went in a cross procession around the church. They also prayed for peace, this is now especially necessary.

Теодора Петрова

I agree, Petya, it is good that the bishop came right on the feast of the apostles. The procession around the church in Chirkovichi always brings me peace, especially since we also prayed for peace. Were you there from Svetlogorsko or from Gomel?

Michael Weber

Рада, владыка Стефан приехал менно н престольный праздник в Чирковичи. The crossroads of the church after the liturgy are all the same, including the shower Today we are in the world. Theodora, what kind of child did you come from?

Мариана Петкова

Yes, Theodora, I am also glad that you came just on the feast of the 12 apostles. The Stations of the Cross is really calming, especially after the peace prayers. I was from Gomel, and you?

Julia Wagner

Yes, there is something really special about the cloister afterwards, especially if you have just prayed for peace. I was there last year and found it very calming. Theodora, are you actually coming by bus or are you driving from Berlin?

Методи Попов

I agree, Petya, I was also there with my wife. The procession around the church in Chirkovichi under the sun was the strongest – especially when we sang about the apostles. What exactly did you remember from the bishop's sermon?

Борис Марков

I agree, Metodi, I was with the kids too. The Procession of the Cross was really the highlight - especially when the sun was shining and we were all singing "Holy Apostles". What I remember most from the sermon was how the bishop said that the apostles left us an example not to divide, but to work together in peace. And what do you remember from the prayers for peace?

Васил Стефанов

Yes, right on the holiday it was especially nice. The Stations of the Cross also brought me peace, especially after the prayers for peace. I am from Varna, but I often go to Gomel to see my daughter, we may have met in the church.

Атанас Николов

I agree, Boris, and I was with my wife and younger daughter - the procession under this sun really sealed. What I remember most from the prayers was how the Bishop quietly but clearly asked for peace in our families and parishes. And you and the children, how did you cope with the heat afterwards?

Stefan Hoffmann

Yes, the cloister after the intercession for peace always seems particularly quiet and collected. This time I arrived by train from Stuttgart and then sat in the garden of the community center for a few minutes. Theodora, are you actually taking the direct bus via Warsaw?

Методи Митев

I agree Methody, my wife and I were there too. What stuck with me the most was how the bishop said that the apostles left us the faith not as a theory, but as a living deed - just when he was talking about peace in the family and in the parish. And did you and your wife stay afterwards for the conversation with the bishop or did you leave immediately?

Борис Петров

I agree, Boris, and I was with my wife and the little one - the heat caught us hard after the walk of the cross, but singing "Holy Apostles" really gave strength. From the sermon, the thing that stuck with me the most was about unity instead of dividing. And what exactly did the bishop say about peace in prayers, I didn't hear him well from behind?

Богдана Николова

Yes, the heat after the walk of the cross was terrible, especially with the child in my arms. The bishop asked in his prayers that peace be restored in our hearts and between us, and not only in the world. Did you and your wife stay at the table in the courtyard afterwards?

Атанас Марков

Yes, the heat was really killer especially after we toured the church. I'm glad that the Bishop paid attention to the peace in our hearts - that's what stayed with me the most from the service. My wife and I did not stay at the table, we went home because our grandson was very tired.

Иванка Стоянова

Yes, the heat was terrible, especially after the walk of the cross - I also came home quickly, my legs hurt all day. It's good that the bishop mentioned peace in hearts, and I remembered that. And how old is your grandson, Athanasius?

Десислава Иванова

Yes, Methodius, I heard exactly these words about the living work of the apostles - especially about peace in the family. He said it quite simply, but it stuck in my head. And did you and your wife manage to talk to the bishop personally after the service?

Иван Кирилов

Yes, Desislava, it was these words about peace in my family that stayed the most. My wife and I were able to get closer after the service and the bishop blessed us personally, said a few good words about the children. What else did you remember from the sermon?

Десислава Петкова

Yes, Ivan, I also remembered exactly those words about peace in the family - at home with the girls, after the service, we repeated them at dinner. I am glad that the bishop blessed you personally, that is a great comfort. And do you remember exactly how he said about the apostles as an example for ordinary people?

Атанас Ангелов

Yes, Ivan, I also heard these exact words about peace in the family - at home with the children, after the liturgy, we repeated them at the table. It is good that the bishop blessed you personally with words for the children, that remains. And what do you think most helps the average person to follow the example of the apostles in everyday life?

Христо Димитров

Yes, Desislava, that's exactly what remained for me about peace in the family - simple, but meaningful. After the service, we didn't manage to talk to the bishop because we were with the little one, and she started to get tired. What else did you remember from the sermon?

Yes, it was precisely the peace in the family that stuck in my mind the most. From the sermon, I remembered how the bishop said that the apostles brought peace everywhere, even in the most ordinary houses. And did you manage to eat something after the service, before the little one got completely tired?

Христо Христов

Yes, it was those words about peace in my family that stuck with me the most – and I repeated them at home after the service. About the apostles, the bishop said that they were ordinary fishermen and workers, but with faith they changed the world, and this also applies to us today. And what do you remember most from his sermon?

Yes, Christ, exactly for the peace in the family and I have the most left. I also remembered how the bishop mentioned that the apostles did not wait for big events, but simply entered the houses and brought the peace of Christ there. And did you manage to get home before the little one was completely exhausted?

Цветанка Колева

Yes, Desislava, exactly those words about the apostles as ordinary people stuck with me - the bishop said that they were not scholars, but simply listened to Christ and followed Him. At home, the girls and I also discussed them at dinner, especially how their faith was enough for us. And what do you remember most from the service in Chirkovichi?

Георги Колев

Yes, Atanas, it was precisely about peace in the family and for the children that was said most strongly. At our house, after such a service, you can always feel the difference - even fishing on Sunday goes more smoothly. And what do you do most often so that you don't forget the example of the apostles in your work as an electrician?

Мария Колева

Yes, I remembered that exact part about the apostles in ordinary houses too - it sounded so close to our daily lives. For peace in my family, I also prayed the most. And after the service we managed to eat a pie each in the churchyard before the little one started to get cranky. How did yours go?

Росица Петрова

Yes, exactly that part about the apostles in the ordinary houses stuck in my head too - as if they were our neighbors. And I prayed for peace at home, especially with my two boys, ages 5 and 8. And who did you get the pie from, Alexey's grandmother? With us, the kids ate two pieces each before we left.

Стефан Марков

Yes, I also thought about peace in homes - especially after you mentioned how the apostles entered the most ordinary homes. After the service, my wife and I managed to eat a pie each before ours got completely tired. And how did it go with your little girl, didn't she get very angry?

Yes, Christ, I also wrote down exactly this in my mind about peace in the family - simple, but very appropriate. I was not able to hear the whole sermon because I was further back with the people, but I remembered how the bishop said that the apostles did not bring any big words, but simply entered and left peace. And did you and the little one get home safely, or did you have to stop on the way?

Кирил Стоянов

Yes, Georgi, it is precisely for the peace in the family and for the children that it is felt most strongly. As a retired person, I often think of the apostles when I dig in the garden - they too worked with their hands and suffered. And what do you do to remember their example while fishing on Sunday?

Красимира Колева

Yes, that's exactly what stuck in my head about the apostles in ordinary houses - it's as if they also passed through our kitchen in Burgas. After the service, we managed to eat an egg pita each before the daughter started to get tired. And how did your little one behave at the end, didn't she cry?

Мариана Тодорова

Yes, I also remembered exactly that about the apostles in the houses - it was as if they came to visit us. I also prayed for peace in our family, especially after my older son had another fight with his father. And where did you get the pie, was it homemade?