The believers celebrated a bright holiday this week.

      The bright holiday was celebrated by the faithful this week. 447 years ago, one of the most revered relics among Orthodox believers appeared — the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this day, thousands of pilgrims participated in a procession, carrying the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The Divine Liturgy was conducted by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He also performed the consecration of the Church of St. Nicholas of Tula on the territory of the Bogoroditsky Monastery, where the holy image of the Mother of God was first discovered. Report by Vadim Volsky. These are footage from 2011 — nothing here reminds us that this building was once an Orthodox church. The ruined walls, dilapidated wooden frames, and the draft blowing through the abandoned remains of history. In the 1930s, a tobacco factory was moved here from Leningrad — instead of incense, the restructured Church of St. Nicholas of Tula smelled of tobacco. In the 2000s, after the closure of the tobacco factory, the site of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God began to be gradually returned to the faithful. In 2015, after the decree was signed by Rustam Minnikhanov, the restoration of the Orthodox shrine began. The first stone of the church was consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. And now, after 11 years, Orthodox Christians from all over the country are heading in procession to the returned shrine. Currently, a multitude of pilgrims has emerged from the walls of the Kazan Kremlin along with the sacred image and is heading to the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Here, everyone walks with a prayer on their lips and good thoughts. The three-kilometer path to the Church of St. Nicholas of Tula in the Bogoroditsky Monastery took just under an hour. For the first time in many decades, the reconstructed shrine opened its doors. The Church of St. Nicholas of Tula has an incredibly rich history. It was the first to receive the Kazan icon of the Mother of God at the end of the 16th century, after it was discovered by the girl Matrona on the ashes. Since then, the church has endured much — it was wooden — burned down, rebuilt in stone — destroyed, and during the Soviet era, it housed a workshop of a tobacco factory. In the end, only four dilapidated walls remained, but now, after a global reconstruction, it has been rebuilt anew and shines once again in all its splendor. This year, the interior of the church was restored. To restore the interior, long months of study and searches in archives for images and historical drawings were required. In total, the internal work took just under 8 months. The iconostasis was custom-made from wood, recreated with meticulous precision. Like the previous one, it is covered in gold leaf. The delicate play of light on the holy faces is conveyed by a candelabrum with 88 candles fixed directly above the icons. The consecration was conducted by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia — Kirill. Together with Rustam Minnikhanov and Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, he approached the pilgrims. And, of course, they were greeted with Tatar hospitality — the Bishop was presented with a traditional loaf, chak-chak, and a bouquet with tropical butterflies. After the consecration of the church, Patriarch Kirill led the first Divine Liturgy. For those who did not have enough space in the church, a live broadcast was organized. And although it was hot outside, this did not break the will of the believers. They pray for health, well-being, and love in the family. “Today is a special day — in honor of the discovery of the icon of the Mother of God — our Mother of God, the protector, as they say, of the whole earth, that’s why I am here,” said Snezhana Almukhamedova. “For us, for everyone — this is a great holiday. Because the Mother of God is our intercessor, our protector. Not only of the Russian land but of all of us: both women, children, and our warriors,” shared Elina Yelmanova. “People are filled here, the Mother hears the prayers of the people, and, of course, helps all those in need,” reported Irina Argaltseva. At the end of the liturgy, the Bishop of the church noted that Tatarstan is an outstanding example of interfaith and interethnic good neighborliness. “May the Lord protect Tatarstan, strengthen the spiritual and material life of the people. Guard against all circumstances that could hinder the continuation of peaceful, calm, and united life. And may this multinational region of Russia truly set an example of how people of different nationalities and religions can live in peace, unity, and respect for one another,” wished His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. After the kind words, Patriarch Kirill awarded Alexey Pesoshin the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 3rd class, and also honored Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan with the Order of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, 2nd class. Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the Bishop of the church for his support. “Orthodoxy, yes, is the first faith for the Russian state, but at the same time — your authority and the fact that you even participated in the forum ‘Russia-Islamic World,’ where you expressed very deeply about today’s events, that Orthodoxy and Islam can save this world. And we highly appreciate this,” commented the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan — Rustam Minnikhanov. At the end, Patriarch Kirill and the Head of Tatarstan laid flowers at the grave of Metropolitan Theophan. Here, in the square in front of the church, a charity fair — “Days of the White Flower” took place, all proceeds will be directed to low-income families.

      More news about the event:

      In Kazan, after 11 years of restoration, the Church of St. Nicholas of Tula was opened. Anna Salnikova, news feed editor. Thousands of believers participated in a procession in Kazan on the occasion of the discovery of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God. 22:28 26.07.2026 ProKazan.Ru - Kazan

      The bright holiday was celebrated by the faithful this week. The bright holiday was celebrated by the faithful this week. 447 years ago, one of the most revered relics among Orthodox believers appeared — the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. 18:36 26.07.2026 GTRK Tatarstan - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      MEETING WITH PRIEST DMITRY KOROLEV IN THE SPIRITUAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER "STAVROS" On July 31, 2026, at the Spiritual and Educational Center "Stavros" of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church in Yaroslavl, a cleric of the Church of the Yaroslavl Icon of the Mother of God, 21:33 26.07.2026 Yaroslavl Diocese - Yaroslavl

      Metropolitan Cornelius conducted an evening service with an akathist to the Lord Jesus Christ. Metropolitan Cornelius of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory on July 26 conducted an evening service with the reading of the akathist to Jesus the Sweetest in the Church of the Theodorov Icon of the Mother of God at the archbishop's residence. 22:17 26.07.2026 Arkhangelsk Diocese - Arkhangelsk

      In Serpukhov, a procession took place with the icon "The Seeking of the Lost." The head of Serpukhov, Alexey Shimko, along with hundreds of believers, walked from the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the White to the Church of All Saints. 19:57 26.07.2026 Smitanka.Ru - Serpukhov

      The Day of the Baptism of Rus will be marked by a traditional ringing of bells in churches and monasteries. By the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, on the day of the memory of the holy equal-to-the-apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, the Day of the Baptism of Rus, 19:35 26.07.2026 Volgograd Diocese - Volgograd

      The Day of the Appearance of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the City of Kazan in the Novomalykly Deanery. On July 21, 2026, on the day of the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan (1579), a Divine Liturgy was served at the Church of New Malykly. 19:00 26.07.2026 Melekskaya Diocese - Dimitrovgrad

      The Day of the Celebration of the Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God. On July 1 (according to the new style), the Holy Church established a prayerful celebration in honor of the Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God, one of the oldest miraculous icons of Russia. 17:36 26.07.2026 Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - Baryatino

      The Day of the Celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.