Celebrations in Honor of the Main Shrine of Rudny Altai – the Znamensk–Abalatsk Icon of the Mother of God – Took Place in the Ust-Kamenogorsk Diocese

July 21, 2025 – Celebrations dedicated to the main shrine of Rudny Altai – the Znamensk–Abalatsk Icon of the Mother of God – took place in the Ust-Kamenogorsk Diocese.

At the Holy Spring near Semipalatinsk, where in 1740 the miraculous discovery of the image of the Queen of Heaven took place, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, presided over by Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Dean of the Semipalatinsk Church District, Protopriest Roman Sychuk; Dean of the Ust-Kamenogorsk Church District, Hieromonk Siluan (Magilev); clergy of the Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk Diocese. The deacons were led by Protodeacon Andrey Dudnik.

The hymns of the Divine Liturgy were sung by the choir of the Resurrection Cathedral, directed by choirmaster Y. Khokhryakova.

Praying during the service were: Abbess Marionilla (Pomelnikova), head of the Znamensk–Abalatsk Convent in the city of Semipalatinsk, with the sisters of the monastery; representatives of the Semipalatinsk Cossacks; and numerous pilgrims from Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semipalatinsk, and other cities and towns of Rudny Altai.

At the end of the service, the archpastor, together with the clergy and the faithful, performed glorification to the Most Holy Theotokos, after which the hierarch addressed the pilgrims with a homily.