The Russian Orthodox Church has commemorated the memory of St. Mitrophan of Beijing and the Chinese Orthodox martyrs who were killed during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, with memorial services held in both Beijing and Moscow. A traditional Chinese Culture Festival dedicated to their memory also took place in the Russian capital.

On June 23, the feast day honoring St. Mitrophan of Beijing and the many Chinese Orthodox Christians who suffered for their faith, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Beijing. The church is located on the grounds of the Russian Embassy in China, at the site of the former Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, where numerous Orthodox believers were martyred more than a century ago.

The service was led by Hieromonk Innokenty (Kolesnikov), rector of the embassy church, together with clergy serving Orthodox communities of Russian compatriots across China.

Memorial events were also held in Moscow at St. Nicholas Church in Golutvin, the Patriarchal Chinese Metochion. An All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy were celebrated in honor of the Chinese martyrs.

The Chinese martyrs are Orthodox Christians who were killed during the Boxer Rebellion, an anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising that swept China in 1900. Among those who lost their lives was Fr. Mitrophan Ji Chong, the first Chinese Orthodox priest. More than 200 Chinese Orthodox believers were killed alongside him and were later canonized by the Church as saints.

As part of the commemorations, the annual Chinese Culture Festival was held on June 21 at the Chinese Metochion in Moscow. Opening the event, Archpriest Igor Zuev emphasized the spiritual and cultural ties between the Russian and Chinese peoples and called for preserving the memory of the Chinese Christians who died for their faith.

One of the festival’s highlights was the premiere of a retrospective historical costume exhibition featuring reconstructions from the Warring States, Han, and Tang periods. The costumes were recreated using archaeological discoveries and museum collections as references.

Visitors enjoyed an extensive cultural program that included an outdoor concert featuring Russian and Chinese performers, musicians, and dance ensembles. A special appearance was made by the brotherhood choir of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra under the direction of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov), which performed folk songs in both Russian and Chinese.

Festival guests also had the opportunity to experience traditional Chinese martial arts. For the first time, the “Awakened Lion” (Xin Shi) Shaolin Wushu Club, a member of the Russian Federation of Shaolin Martial Arts, participated in the event. Following the concert, attendees joined a session of Chinese wellness exercises led by master instructor Anton Podgursky.

A separate lecture program explored Chinese history and culture, featuring leading Russian sinologists who spoke about the Chinese language, traditions, military history, and ancient Chinese fashion.

One of the most notable attractions was the “Garden of Memory,” decorated with lanterns bearing cards containing brief biographies of the Chinese martyrs. Organizers said the installation was intended not only as a decorative feature but also as a space for learning about the history of Orthodoxy in China.

In addition, visitors participated in workshops on Chinese painting and calligraphy, played traditional board games such as Go and Xiangqi, and explored Chinese tea traditions and cuisine prepared by parishioners of the Chinese Metochion.

The commemorations highlighted both the enduring memory of the Chinese Orthodox martyrs and the continuing cultural and spiritual connections between Russia and China more than a century after the tragic events of the Boxer Rebellion.