Divine Liturgy in the Cathedraltranslated

July 23, 2026 · 1 min read

On the Feast of the Laying of the Honorable Robe of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Moscow, July 23, 2026, His Eminence Stephen, Archbishop of Gomel and Zhlobin, led the Divine Liturgy at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Gomel.

The archpastor was served by the clergy of the cathedral.

During the service, prayers for peace were offered. At the end of the Liturgy, Archbishop Stefan blessed the clergy and believers.

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Simona Tudor

The service seems to have been full of peace, especially since they specifically prayed for peace. I am glad that Archbishop Stefan came to Gomel and served together with the priests there. How many believers were at the Liturgy that day?

Светлана Новикова

It’s good that Bishop Stefan came and served together with the local priests. Prayers for peace are especially important now. And how many people were in the cathedral is really interesting, Simona, usually on such holidays there are a decent crowd of people.

Татьяна Лебедева

Yes, Stefan arrived, and it was clear that the service turned out to be very collected. There were about two hundred people in the cathedral, no less, especially closer to communion. Were you there that day?

Георгий Иванов

It’s good that Bishop Stefan came to Gomel precisely for this holiday. Two hundred people is normal for a weekday in a cathedral, especially when they are praying for peace. Tatyana, did you take communion that day or did you just stand there?

Ilie Constantinescu

The service was really peaceful, I also read about those prayers for peace. Archbishop Stefan often visits Gomel, but I don't know how many believers there were this time - probably more than usual, being a holiday. Have you ever been to Gomel Cathedral?

Daniela Ciobanu

Yes, the prayers for peace were truly felt that day. I also went to a similar service last year in the cathedral in Gomel and I was surprised how many people come when it's a big holiday. Would you ever manage to get there, Simona?

Peter Clark

Yeah, two hundred sounds about right for a weekday feast like that in the cathedral. I always notice how the prayers for peace hit different when the archbishop is there serving with the local priests. Tatiana, did you end up receiving that day?

Emma Mitchell

Yeah, the prayers for peace do carry extra weight when the archbishop is there with the local clergy. I was at the later moleben that afternoon and it was still pretty full. Peter, did you make it over from Minsk or were you watching the stream?

Ольга Смирнова

It’s good that two hundred people came to such a holiday - on weekdays in Samara there are often fewer people at the cathedral. Georgiy, why do you think Bishop Stefan decided to come to the Placing of the Robe? I wasn’t there that day, but I heard that after the service many came up for a blessing.

Антон Лебедев

Yes, two hundred people on a weekday is not bad at all, in Kazan we often have about that many people on such holidays. But why exactly Stefan came to the Position of the Robe is interesting, maybe simply with the blessing of the Patriarch or promised long ago. Didn’t you hear whether he took a long time to bless after the service or got it over with quickly?

Ксения Попова

Yes, two hundred people on a weekday is normal; in Yaroslavl, we also have about the same number of people gather for such holidays. But I also don’t know why Bishop Stefan came to the Placing of the Robe, maybe it was just a convenient day. Olga, did you hear how long after the service he blessed the people?

Irene Wilson

I was at the Liturgy too and noticed how quiet the church got during those prayers for peace. Didn't make it to the moleben though – had to get back for choir practice. Did you stay for the whole thing, Emma?

Полина Соловьёва

In Samara, it’s probably true that it’s often less on weekdays. And here in St. Petersburg, on the Position of the chasuble, there are usually also about two hundred, if the weather is normal. Olga, did you hear that Bishop Stefan said anything special in his sermon about the robe itself?

Nicholas Parker

Yeah, that quiet during the prayers for peace stuck with me too, like the whole church was listening harder than usual. I stayed right through the moleben, then walked home through the park and watered the tomatoes before the girls got back from school. What piece are you lot rehearsing for choir this week?