Gnesichi, Grodno Province, Belarus, July 29, 2024
Photo: church.by
The feast of St. Vladimir the great and the Baptism of Rus’ was festively celebrated at Belarus’ St. Elisha-Larishevsky Monastery with a Baptismal Liturgy in the Neman River.
The tradition of celebrating Baptismal Liturgies in the river began in 2018. OrthoChristian reported on the Baptisms in Belarus: Baptismal Liturgy in Neman River for Baptism of Rus’ (+VIDEO)The tradition of celebrating a Baptismal Divine Liturgy for the Baptism of Rus’ was born in 2018 with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Guriy of Novogrudok and Slonim.
“>2021, Mass Baptism in Belarusian river on feast of Baptism of Rus’According to a recent tradition, the feast of the Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Vladimir the Great and the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ on July 28 were festively celebrated with a Baptismal Divine Liturgy in the Neman River in Belarus.”>2022, and Mass Baptisms in Belarus and EnglandAt least two mass Baptisms occurred in the Orthodox Church over the weekend.”>2023.
The Liturgy was celebrated by Archpriest Dmitry Semukha, secretary of the Novogrudok Diocese, with other local and monastery clergy. This year, 18 people from various dioceses, including chidlren and adults, were baptized into Christ in the holy Orthodox Church.
Photo: church.by
After the service, all those present partook in a monastery meal.
“This day is truly great for us, because it was Prince Vladimir who, in his time, made a decision that changed the course of history for our Slavic peoples,” noted Archpriest Anatoly Gerasimuk. “And in our Novogrudok Diocese, we’ve established a tradition—we celebrate a Baptismal Liturgy on the Neman River. This service is special both for the laity and for us, the clergy. Glorifying Prince Vladimir, remembering the spiritual act he performed on the waters of the Dnieper, we, as if drawing parallels, perform the same act on the waters of the Neman. We baptize both adults and infants.”
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