Port Arthur icon Bozhiej Mothers in Port Arthur (click for increase On a picture)
Day of the Victory over 2003 became Day of Victory Bozhiej of Mother. On May, 9 to Port Arthur icon Presvjatoj of the Virgin "Port Arthur" has been delivered. After equally hundred years precept Prechistoj, open to the religous soldier-sailor in vision has been executed.
Consecrated in Nikolsky Morskom a cathedral of of Kronstadt - the main sea cathedral of Russia, the new list of an image " Celebration Presvjatoj of the Virgin " on March, 27 on holiday Feodorovskoj of the Mother of God began religious procession from a temple over. John Bogoslova Leushinskogo of a farmstead in Saint Petersburg through all Russia to Port Arthur which now is the Chinese city of Lǚshùnkǒu . Thousand people saw off an icon in a distant way.
The family of devotees has gone to religious procession by the machine from Tsarskoe Selo: a Christian Andrey Savostitsky and his adult children Artemy and Maria, students of the Petersburg high schools. Later George, the prior of a temple of Regal Martyrs who accompanied with an icon has joined them in Diveevo ieromonah.
Nobody knew, how execution of will Bozhiej of Mother will be made, enjoined to deliver Its image to the most east point of Russian empire.
A way from coast of Neva up to Yellow sea dlinoju in 12 thousand kilometers religious procession has overcome for two weeks, however then she the whole month was on border of China. " The great Chinese wall ", appear, has risen an absolute obstacle in way Bozhiej of Mother. The Chinese authorities under different pretexts refused to pass an icon. Under laws of Chinese People's Republic entrance to orthodox priests on territory of China is prohibited. Ieromonahu George on border had to remove with destruction of heart oblachenie and to change clothes in a secular suit. The icon, eventually, has been transported in the packed kind. Religious procession have passed to make only pominovenie ubiennyh heroes of Port Arthur of II World war. And in two hours after the icon has left a frontier post, in China in connection with an epidemiological situation all borders have been closed.
Under laws of China foreign transport can move ahead deep into the countries no more than on 80 km, therefore the machine have left in territory of Russia. Across China image Bozhiej of Mother should be transferred on hands. It is necessary to note, that on territory of China not time took part in this religious procession also local residents.
Port Arthur now is the closed naval base of Chinese People's Republic. Foreigners there do not start up. Unique day when in city veterans from Russia - on May, 9 can visit Russian cemetery, but this year because of epidemic of Russian delegation was not.
A cross on a cemetery In Port Arthur
Having reached at last Port Arthur, pilgrims have seen a 6-meter stone cross established by command of Sovereign of Emperor Nikolay Aleksandrovicha in the center of a cemetery. Tears of pleasure and affection were on eyes of four Russian people, from execution of the Precept of the Virgin.
Before an icon put at a cross, father George has made requiem and brief moleben about rescue of Russia. The service passed under steadfast supervision of Chinese, therefore was made in without epitrahili. Photographing has been forbidden - removed secretly and when attendants of a cemetery have noticed - have threatened to select the camera. Only favour Bozhiej it is possible to explain, that they have overlooked to carry out the intention.
In a majestic memorable cross it is arranged kiot in which there was mosaic icon Bozhiej of Mother Kazan, destroyed during a cultural revolution. On its place the small icon Port Arthur of the Mother of god, specially for this purpose made and consecrated in temple Leushinskogo of a farmstead has been put. This icon also has remained in Port Arthur in the performance of words Bozhiej of Mother.
It is necessary to tell, that simple Chinese have met an image with the big interest. When they have seen it on a cemetery began to repeat: " Maria, Maria... ". Many in China have apprehended visiting an image as the sign on that Mater Bozhija to pray for this country before the person of terrible epidemic. The source of this fatal illness as have told to pilgrims in China, became blood of snakes which in southern provinces are in the habit to add in rice vodka sake. This plague of XXI century as though is called to remind of that zmie, which since olden days zhalit humanity in pjatu. Now here, in the center of epidemic the image of That Which Seed has erased to it the chapter was.
To Bozhiej Mothers the attitude in China special. To pilgrims from Russia not time was necessary to hear the story that Chinese could appropriate at any moment present Russia, but each time when there is this idea, they see, that along the Russian border, oblachennaja a Certain Wife goes to blue copes, and " threatens them with a fist ".
The pilgrims accompanied Icon in Russian embassy
When about visiting an icon have learned in Russian embassy, her have invited to Beijing. Here religious procession with an icon on territory of embassy has been accomplished and the solemn dinner is arranged in honour of visiting image Bozhiej of Mother.
All these events became really Celebration Presvjatoj of the Virgin.
A week later by the plane the icon has returned to Russia. On May, 18 her met, as well as saw off, in temple Leushinskogo of a farmstead in Saint Petersburg with chtimymi icons of a temple - Narva, Leushinskoj and Grain. Within day pred it made a grade not covering Akafista.
A meeting Port Arthur Icons on Leushino
Next day on May 19, on traditional Vsepeterburgskom religious procession in memory of the Tsar-martyr an icon Port Arthur of the Virgin met about 3 thousand person. Except for traditional Akafista to the Reign-martyr this year 10 priests read with all people Akafist Port Arthur to an icon. In the chapter of Religious procession the image has been enclosed around Spasa-na-Krovi and brought to the Kazan cathedral. On a church porch of a cathedral of St.-Petersburg pred it had been read pray Zastupnitse of limits of the Earth Russian. It is significant, that hundred years ago from the Kazan cathedral saw off Port - Arturskuju an icon in a distant way. After a century on the same place St.-Petersburg has met the icon which has come back with a celebration.
Priest Gennadiy Belovolov May 18, 2003