Elista Welcomes the Icon of the Appearance of Christ and Celebrates the Divine Liturgy

On the morning of 10 September 2026, Elista held a ceremonial welcome for the icon of the Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to Worshippers in the City of Elista. Clergy, representatives of the regional authorities, parishioners and residents of Kalmykia took part in the gathering.

During the anniversary year, churches in district centres across Kalmykia received the sacred image. On the previous day, the icon was kept at the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Elista.

Following the welcome, participants carried the icon to the Kazan Cathedral complex. The image was brought into the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross and returned to its historic place. According to testimony from the priest and parishioners, it was in this church that the Appearance of Christ the Saviour took place on 11 September 1946.

The Divine Liturgy was then celebrated at the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Prayers were offered for help, protection and the health of all people, accompanied by liturgical singing from the choir.

During a live broadcast, Anatoly Sklyarov, a priest of Kazan Cathedral, spoke about faith being expressed through acts of love and mercy. He also reflected on the importance of prayer, fasting and worship in Christian life, and noted that the memory of the Appearance continues to unite Kalmykia’s Orthodox community.

The welcoming of the icon and the Divine Liturgy were central events of the second day of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour in Elista.

Sources: the press release provided to the editorial team; official programme for the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour in Elista; RIA Kalmykia — anniversary programme.