A solemn consecration and the opening of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ will take place in Soligorsk on November 26, BelTA learned from the main department of ideological work, culture and youth affairs of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee.
The Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky Pavel and the ruling bishop of the Slutsk diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, Bishop Anthony, are scheduled to lead the celebrations. They will be attended by representatives of the administration of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee and Soligorsk district executive committee, state enterprises, organizations, bishops of the bishops' dioceses, clergymen from Belarus and near abroad, honorary guests.
More than 2 thousand believers and pilgrims are expected to take part in the celebrations. Several holy objects are brought to the temple, including the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called and St. Mary Magdalene, the ark with the relics of 54 holy ascetics, new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church, a list from the ancient image of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker.
Events on the occasion of the consecration of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ will begin in Soligorsk on November 25 with a festive all-night service in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. Directly the consecration of the cathedral is scheduled for 10.00 on November 26.
In 1994, the leadership of the Soligorsk district supported the believers and decided to allocate a plot of land in the city center for the construction of an Orthodox church, which was to become a large-scale construction with a whole infrastructure. As a basis for the architectural project, the temples of Belarus, in particular, the Turov principality were taken. Their main difference is in helmet-shaped domes.
The Nativity of the MostHoly Mother of God, the Nativity of Christ (the main cathedral or the upper church) and the Nativity of John the Baptist (the lower temple) enter the complex of the Nativity of Christ. The cathedral can simultaneously receive 4 thousand believers. In addition to the main building, there will be a Sunday school for 300 people, as well as a charitable canteen, a hospice for 25 beds, a concert hall, a water church, a baptistery in which, according to an ancient tradition, baptism will take place by completely immersing a person in water.
Parishioners, local authorities, labor collectives, sponsors, public organizations of the Soligorsk district contributed to the construction of the cathedral of the Nativity of Christ.
