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TORONTO: February 22, 2010
Protopriest Vladimir Malchenko announces a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia

To the Heart of Holy Russia
Orthodox holy places of Moscow and ancient Russian towns

Dear Brothers and Sisters! 

     You are invited to go on a unique pilgrimage to the holy places of Moscow and ancient Russian towns of Moscow, Tver, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Vologda regions.  During the course of two weeks you will have an opportunity to enjoy the overwhelming beauty of the memorials of the ancient Russian architecture of Russia's Golden Ring, to pray before the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Blessed Matrona of Moscow and St. Anna of Kashin, to venerate the wonderworking "Feodorovskaya" icon of the Mother of God, and to attend divine services at various monasteries.

     The pilgrimage is organized by "All Travel Solutions" along with the cooperation of the pilgrimage department of the Kiev Caves Lavra and with the direct involvement of Protopriest Vladimir Malchenko, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Toronto. 

Pilgrimage Program

Flight from Toronto to Moscow is on May 23rd, at 6:20 PM.

Return from Moscow to Toronto is on June 7th, at 2:45 PM. 

Day 1. Monday, May 24th.

Arrival at the Domodedovo airport at 5:45 PM.

Check in at St. Maron's hotel

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Night at St. Maron's hotel 

Day 2. Tuesday, May 25th.

Liturgy at the church of St. John the Soldier or St. Maron

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Trip to Moscow's Kremlin and Armoury

Walking excursion

    • Iveron chapel,
    • Kazan cathedral,
    • Red Square,
    • Church of Blessed Basil,
    • Churches on Varvarka.

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Night at St. Maron's hotel 

Day 3. Wednesday, May 26th.

Liturgy at the Protection stavropigial convent

Sacred:

    • Relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow,
    • Venerated icon of the Mother of God "Search of the lost".

Meal at the Protection convent

Trip to Theophany Elohovsky cathedral

Sacred:

    • Relics of St. Alexis, the Metropolitan of Moscow,
    • Wonderworking Kazan icon of the Mother of God,
    • Tombs of Patriarch Alexis II and Patriarch Sergius…

Trip to the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Sokolniki

Sacred:

    • Venerated Iveron icon of the Mother of God,
    • Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God (from Barbara's gates of Kitai-town),
    • Passion icon of the Mother of God (from the Passion monastery),
    • Icon of greatmartyr Panteleimon (from the chapel at Lubyanka gates),
    • Many sacred objects from closed Moscow churches!

Trip to the Church of the Mother of God of the Sign

Sacred:

    • Venerated icon of the Mother of God of the "Sign" – beginning of the 17th century,
    • Icon of martyr Tryphon with a piece of his relics,
    • Wooden crucifix of the 18th century and cross from 1652,
    • Cross reliquary with many holy relics,
    • Icon of St. Macarius of Kalyazin,
    • Icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov with a piece of his coffin,
    • Icon of St. Theodosius of Chernigov with a piece of his vestment.

Church of the Holy Spirit ( Lazarus Cemetery )

Sacred:

    • More than 400 reliquaries with the relics of saints
    • Churches on Varvarka.

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Night at St. Maron's hotel 

Day 4. Thursday, May 27th.

Liturgy at the church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki.

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God "Surety of sinners" – 17th century,
    • "Smolensk" icon of the Mother of God – year 1848,
    • Icon of St. Alexis – year 1688,
    • Icon of St. John the Warrior – 18th century.

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Trip to Donskoy stavropigial monastery

Sacred: in the Lesser cathedral:

    • Venerated "Feodorovskaya" icon of the Mother of God,
    • Venerated icon of the Mother of God of the "Sign",
    • Relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia,
    • Grave of St. Tikhon's cell attendand – martyr Jacob Polozov,
    • Wonderworking "Donskaya" icon of the Mother of God – in the Greater cathedral,
    • In the Levchenko tomb – mosaic icon of St. Nicholas.

Trip to Danilov stavropigial monastery

Sacred:

    • Pieces of relics of Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow in reliquaries, in the Trinity and Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils cathedrals.
    • Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimir with akathist" – 16th century – in the church of the Holy Fathers,
    • Icon of the Life-creating Trinity – 16th century – in the Trinity cathedral,
    • Venerated icon of the Mother of God "Of three hands" – 17th century – in the Trinity cathedral,
    • Venerated icon of John Cassian the Roman – 18th century – in the Trinity cathedral,
    • Venerated icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov with a pieces of his relics, mantia, and prayer rope – in the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov,
    • Relics of the New Martyr, confessor of the Danilov monastery, St. George Lavrov (+1932) – in the church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Meal at the Danilov monastery

Trip to the church of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of all who sorrow"

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God "Joy of all who sorrow",
    • Venerated icon of St. Longinus, the Centurion,
    • Venerated icon of St. Alexis, the Man of God,
    • Venerated icon of St. Andrew, the First-called.

Trip to the convent of Ss. Martha and Mary

Sacred:

    • Pieces of relics of Ss. Elizabeth and Barbara,

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Night at St. Maron's hotel 

Day 5. Friday, May 28th.

Meal at St. Maron's hotel

Departure to Holy Trinity-St. Sergius' Lavra

Protection stavropigial convent in Khotkovo

Sacred: 

    • Relics of Ss. Cyril and Maria – parents of St. Sergius.

Holy Trinity-St. Sergius' Lavra

Sacred:

    • Relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Trinity cathedral);
    • "Tikhvin" icon of the Mother of God (Trinity cathedral);
    • "Chernigov" icon of the Mother of God (Trinity cathedral);
    • Relics of St. Nikon of Radonezh;
    • Relics of St. Dionysios of Radonezh;
    • Relics of St. Serapion;
    • Relics of St. Micah of Radonezh;
    • Relics of St. Maximus the Greek (church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit);
    • Relics of St. Anthony  of Radonezh (church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit);
    • Icons by St. Andrew Rublev;
    • Tomb of tsar Boris Godunov and members of his family;
    • Springs of St. Sergius of Radonezh;
    • Spring of St. Savva of Storozhev;
    • Relics of St. Philaret (Drozdov) – taken to Moscow;
    • Relics of St. Innocent of Moscow – taken to Moscow;

Trip to Serapion hall.

Meal at the hotel

Check in at the hotel

Vespers at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius' Lavra

Meal at the hotel 

    Day 6. Saturday, May 29th.

Liturgy at the Trinity cathedral, where the relics of St. Sergius rest.

Liturgy at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit

Meal at the hotel

Departure to Pereyaslavl – Zalesskiy

Trip to Nicholskiy convent

Sacred:

    • Relics of Right-believing prince Andrew of Smolensk;
    • Relics of St. Cornilius the Silent;
    • Icon of the hieromartyr Eugene.

Trip to Pereyaslavl's Nikita's monastery

Sacred:

    • Relics of St. Nikita the Stylite (+1186) and his chains;
    • The place of his seclusion;
    • Well of St. Nikita the Stylite (2 km from the monastery);
    • Spring of greatmartyr Barbara on the shore of a lake.

Meal

Departure for Godenovo

Trip to Godenovo, church of St. John Chrysostom (representation of Nicholskiy convent).

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking Cross that appeard on July 11, 1423.

Departure from Godenovo, to a monastery at the place, where the Cross appeared in 1423.

Departure for Rostov

Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery

Sacred:

    • Birth place of St. Sergius of Radonezh;
    • Cross at the place, where the Angel appeared to St. Sergius;
    • Holy well.

Vespers

Meal at the Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery

Night at the hotel of the Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery 

    Day 7. Sunday, May 30th.

Liturgy at the Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery

Meal at the Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery

Departure for  Spaso-Yakovlevskiy Dimitrievskiy monastery

Trip to Spaso-Yakovlevskiy Dimitrievskiy monastery

Sacred: 

    • Relics of St. Dimitrius of Rostov;
    • Relics of St. Jacob of Rostov;
    • Cross of St. Avraamiy.

Meal at the Spaso-Yakovlevskiy Dimitrievskiy monastery

Trip to Rostov Kremlin

Dormition cathedral church

Sacred: 

    • Relics of St. Leontius of Rostov;
    • Relics of St. Ignatius of Rostov;
    • Relics of St. Isaiah, the Wonderworker of Rostov;
    • Relics of St. Theodore, archbishop of Rostov, nephew of St. Sergius of Radonezh;
    • Relics of Right-believing prince Vasili.

Ss. Boris & Gleb monastery

Sacred: 

    • Ss. Theodore and Paul – founders of the monastery;
    • Relics of St. Irinarchus the recluse;
    • Chains of St. Irinarchus the recluse;
    • Spring of St. Irinarchus.

Trinity-Sergius' Vartnitskiy monastery

Vespers

Meal at the Trinity-Sergius' Varnitskiy monastery 

    Day 8. Monday, May 31st.

Meal

Departure for Kashin

Ascention Cathedral

Sacred: 

    • Relics of St. Anna of Kashin;
    • Piece of relics of St. Macarius of Kalyazin;
    • Icon with a piece of relics of St. John the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord;
    • Under the main altar table there is a piece of the relics of the martyr Elizabeth Feodorvna Romanova.
    • Icon of Dorothea, which is now situated next to the coffin of princes Anna.

Main church of the city – Resurrection cathedral:

    • Bell tower and clock, presented to the city by a local merchant at the end of the 19th century.
    • Bell tower observation platform, open for visitation.

Departure for Kalyazin

Bell tower of Nicholskiy cathedral (year 1800) – the main attraction

Meal at the cafe in Kalyazin

Departure for Uglich

Uglich Kremiln

    • Tsar's halls of prince Dimitrius (1462);
    • Church of Dimitrius on the blood (1692);

Church of prince Dimitrius in the Field (1800)

Sacred:          

    • Relics of Right-believing prince Roman of Uglich;
    • Piece of relics of St. Dimitrius of Uglich;
    • Relics of the killed youth John Chepolusov (+1633);
    • Venerated "Feodorvskaya" icon of the Mother of God, in front of which prince Dimitrius prayed;
    • Athonite icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
    • Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, which appeared in the 14th century;
    • Icon of St. John the Warrior.

St. Alexis' convent

    • Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God "Undying Candle of the Immaterial Fire".

Meal at the hotel

Check in at the hotel  

    Day 9. Tuesday, June 1st.

Meal at the hotel

Theophany monastery

Sacred:          

    • Locally venerated "Feodorovskaya" icon of the Mother of God,
    • Ancient wonderworking icon of the Mother of God "The Vigilant Eye".

Resurrection monastery (1674-1677)

Sacred:          

    • Relics of St. Joachim;

Church of the Nativity of St. John the Forerunner (1691)

Sacred:          

    • Part of the relics of the killed youth John Chepolusov (+1633);

Meal at the hotel

Departure for Tutaev

Resurrection cathedral (1652 – 1678)

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking icon of the All-merciful Saviour – 15th century

Kazan Transfiguration church (1758)

Cathedral of the Elevation of the Cross (15th century)

Departure for Yaroslavl

Check in and meal at the hotel

Night at the hotel 

Day 10. Wednesday, June 2nd.

Meal at the hotel

Yarolslavl.  Kazanskiy convent

Sacred:                          

    • Wonderworking "Kazan" icon;
    • Relics of St. Agathangel (+ October 16th, 1928)

Cathedral church of the "Feodorovskaya" icon of the Mother of God

Sacred:                     

    • Coffin with the relics of Right-believing prince Theodore of Yaroslavl and his sons David and Konstantin

Kremlin.  Museum – Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy monastery (1506 – 1516)

Church of the Theophany of the Lord

Sacred:                     

    • The canonized Yaroslavl princes Theodore the Black and his sons David and Konstantin were buried in the monastery, as well as Archbishops of Rostov Prochorus and Tryphon, Yaroslavl princes Vasiliy Davidovich and Alexander Feodorovich, Metropolitan of Laodicea Parthenius Neboza, Archbishop Nil (Isakovich), Yaroslavl governor Alexei Yakovlevich Fride and others.

Meal at the Kremlin cafe

Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour on the City – 1672

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking "Yaroslavl" icon of the Mother of God

Church of the Beheading of St. John the Forerunner in Tolchkovo – pinnacle of the Yaroslavl school of the 17th century.

Trip to the Tolgskiy Svyato-Vvedenskiy (of the Holy Entry) convent

Sacred:

    • "Tolgskaya" wonderworking icon;
    • Relics of St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov (May 13th is the day of commemoration, glorified in 1988).

Meal at the convent

Night at the hotel 

    Day 11. Thursday, June 3rd.

Meal at the hotel

Departure for Kostroma

Bogoyavlenskiy-Anastasiin (Theophany-Anastasia's) convent

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking "Feodorovskaya" icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
    • Wonderworking fresco on the wall "Smolensk" icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
    • Cross-reliquary with 178 pieces of relics of saints;
    • Cross with holy things from Holy Land (piece of the Life-creating Cross of the Lord, tomb of the Lord, Golgotha);

Meal at the Bogoyavlenskiy-Anastasiin convent

Holy Trinity Ipatievskiy monastery

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking "Tikhvin" icon of the Most Holy Theotoks;
    • Reliquary with a piece of relics of St. Hypatius of Gangara;
    • Hidden relics of St. Nikita, disciple of St. Sergius;
    • Coffin of St. Macarius Pisemskiy

Departure for Vologda

Check in at the hotel

Meal at the hotel 

    Day 12. Friday, June 4th.

Meal at the hotel

Departure for Kirillov

Kirillo-Belozerskiy monastery

Sacred:

    • Hidden relics of St. Cyril of the White lake (Kirill Belozerskiy);
    • Cross of St. Cyril of the White lake.

Meal at a cafe in Kirillov

Departure for Therapontovo

Therapontov-Belozerskiy monastery – 1398 – unique memorial of history, architecture and wall paining of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Sacred:

    • Frescos by Dionysios

Departure for Vologda

Spaso-Prilutskiy monastery (Vologda, Priluki)

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God "Quick to hear";
    • Relics of St. Dimitrius of Priluki;
    • Relics of St. Ignatius of Priluki;

Check in and meal at the hotel "Bodrost" ("Vigor") 

    Day 13. Saturday, June 5th.

Meal at the hotel "Bodrost"

Trip to visit the churches of Vologda:

Cathedral church of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Sacred:

    • Wonderworking "Sorrowing" icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
    • Wonderworking "Kazan" icon of the Most Holy Theotokos;
    • Wonderworking icon "All-merciful Saviour";
    • Relics of St. Joasaph of Kamensk;

Vologda kremlin

Sophia cathedral (1568)

    • Collection of icons, among which is the wonderworking icon of St. Dimitrius of Priluki, cilician cross from the Priluki monastery

Meal at a cafe in Vologda or at the hotel

Church of St. Nicholas at the Vladychnaya Sloboda

Sacred:

    • Relics of St. Antony, bishop of Vologda and Great Perm;

Departure for Moscow

Check in and meal at the hotel of St. Maron 

    Day 14. Sunday, June 6th.

Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Trip to the museum of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Meal at the hotel of St. Maron

Trip to Tretyakov Gallery

Meal at the hotel of St. Maron 

    Day 15. Monday, June 6th.

Departure for "Domodedovo" airport at 2:00 AM

Take off for Toronto at 5:25 AM

Arrival in Toronto at 2:45 PM 
 

Cost of the entire trip is $2,780.00 (Canadian) if paid before March 1st.  After March 1st the cost may go up and there is no guarantee of available spots. 

The cost of the trip includes:

  • Airfare Toronto – Moscow – Toronto
  • Transfers to hotels and airports
  • Excursion buses for the entire trip
  • Orthodox guides for the duration of the entire trip
  • Stay at the hotels
  • Two meals each day
  • Excursions and tickets to the museums
 

The cost of the trip DOES NOT include:

  • medical insurance
  • trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • tourist visas to Russia

    The above are obtained through “All Travel Solutions” for an additional fee. 

Payments may be made by check or cash. 

In order to register for the pilgrimage and for additional information, please, contact Alexander at (416) 650-1367, or the office of "All Travel Solutions" at 4544 Dufferin Street, Suite 202, Toronto, ON, M3H 5X2.

E-mail: all_travel_solutions@bellnet.ca

Fax: (416) 650-5365

 

 
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