Hundreds of Orthodox clergy and pilgrims gathered on July 14–15 at the Monastery of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Turkovice, southeastern Poland, for the annual feast dedicated to the revered Turkovice Icon of the Mother of God.

The celebration, held each year on the Feast of the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae, brought together faithful from across Poland to honor one of the country's most venerated Orthodox shrines.

This year's services were led by Metropolitan Hilarion, a native of the historic Chełm region whose family roots trace back to Tomaszów County. He was joined by Archbishop Abel of Lublin and Chełm and Archbishop Paisius of Przemyśl and Gorlice.

The festivities began with an all-night vigil, during which worshippers prayed before the miracle-working Turkovice Icon. The following day included Divine Liturgies, an Akathist service before the icon, the blessing of water, and a memorial service for the monastery's former abbesses and sisters. Special prayers were also offered for the Orthodox Christians of the Chełm region who preserved their faith despite persecution during the 20th century.

In his sermon at the festive Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Paisius reflected on the centuries-long history of the Turkovice Icon and spoke about the spiritual challenges facing modern society. He emphasized the enduring importance of Christian faith and prayer in daily life.

At the conclusion of the celebrations, Archbishop Abel thanked the hierarchs, clergy, volunteers, pilgrims, and organizers who participated in the feast. As a commemorative gift, he presented guests with icons of the Mother of God of Lublin. Metropolitan Hilarion also addressed the gathering, sharing childhood memories of the deep devotion shown to the Turkovice Icon among Orthodox believers in the Chełm region.

The Turkovice Icon of the Mother of God has been venerated by Orthodox Christians for nearly seven centuries. According to Church tradition, its origins are connected with the ancient miraculous icon of the Mother of God from Belz, which is traditionally attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist.

Tradition recounts that in 1382 Prince Władysław of Opole transported the Belz icon westward. During a stop near Turkovice, six pairs of horses were reportedly unable to move the wagon carrying the icon. After the image continued on to Częstochowa—where it later became known as the famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa—a second miracle was said to have occurred at the stopping place. A new icon, identical to the original and shedding tears, appeared in a radiant light. This image became known as the Turkovice Icon of the Mother of God.

A church was subsequently built at the site of the apparition, followed by the establishment of a monastery that became one of the principal spiritual centers of Orthodox Christianity in the Chełm region. Over the centuries, believers have prayed before the icon for healing, protection of families, and the preservation of the faith, attributing numerous accounts of answered prayers to its intercession.

During the First World War, the monastery and the original miracle-working icon were evacuated to Moscow, after which the whereabouts of the original image were lost. Today, the most revered historic copy of the Turkovice Icon is preserved at the St. Onuphrius Monastery in Jabłeczna, Poland. Another ancient icon, regarded by some researchers as one of the earliest miraculous copies, has been housed since 1998 in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, where it also remains an object of deep veneration.