On September 4, 2026, the miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, one of the oldest and most revered shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church, was solemnly presented at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, the main church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The holy image was accompanied to the military cathedral by Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin and Lodeynopol. Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, Chairman of the Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks, led the solemn meeting of the icon and the prayer singing in front of it. The service was attended by representatives of the military clergy, members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, clerics and parishioners of the temple.
At the end of the prayer service, the archpastors addressed the worshippers with words of greeting. In his speech, Metropolitan Kirill expressed gratitude to Bishop Mstislav for bringing the shrine and recalled the history of the miraculous image.: "According to the tradition of the Church, this great shrine was painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Most Pure Virgin. For many centuries she stayed in Jerusalem and Constantinople, and in 1383 she miraculously appeared over the waters of Lake Ladoga, choosing the Russian land as her destiny."
The head of the Synodal Department paid special attention to the spiritual connection of historical epochs, noting that together with the Tikhvin Icon, a fragment of the relics of the holy Grand Duke Dimitry Donskoy was transferred to the cathedral for worship. "It is providential that these days, under the arches of the main temple of the Armed Forces, erected in memory of the Great Victory, shrines inextricably linked with the formation of our Fatherland are united. In the era of the Battle of Kulikovo, the Heavenly Queen spread Her blessed veil over the northern borders of Russia, strengthening the spirit of our people," Metropolitan Kirill emphasized.
Speaking about the need for comprehensive support for the defenders of the Fatherland in the current conditions, Metropolitan Kirill noted: "Today, during the special military operation, we sincerely pray for a speedy victory. Our common prayer goes up for the Supreme Commander, the military leaders, the volunteers, and the entire Christ-loving army. The weapon of our soldiers is not only military valor, but also fortitude, readiness to stand up for the truth to the end."
Concluding his sermon, Bishop Kirill called on the audience for spiritual sobriety and inner purification: "Each of us must be ready to appear before God with a pure heart, good deeds and sincere penitent prayer. To remain faithful to the oath and endure all trials to the end is what we must learn from our great ancestors, relying on their prayerful intercession."
In turn, Bishop Mstislav also addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. Vladyka Mstislav noted the high importance of the miraculous image's presence in the main military temple of the country for the spiritual care and strengthening of military personnel fulfilling their duty to the Fatherland.
The miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God will remain in the Patriarchal Cathedral in the Name of the Resurrection of Christ, the main church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for the prayerful worship of believers until September 23.