CHICAGO, IL [DOM] – In preparation for the upcoming feast of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God on June 25 and June 26, His Eminence Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest sent out a memo to clergy highlighting some of the specific details of the upcoming celebration.
The upcoming celebration is being held in honor of the feast of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God at the Diocesan Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL. The annual observance of this feast has taken on special meaning this year as it is the 20th anniversary of the original icons return to Tikhvin, Russia, from Chicago.
Preparations for the upcoming feast has been in the works for the past year. One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is a mile long cross procession that will take place from the Diocesan Cathedral to the Midwest Chancery, St. George Cathedral. In anticipation for the upcoming services the Archbishop offered the following instructions to those planning on participating.
“As a means to assist in your participation, please review the following instructions:
- All priests are invited to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy. Space in the Altar is very limited, so the majority of priests will stand in the nave of the Cathedral.
- Deacons are invited to vest and stand and pray in the Cathedral. Deacons are further invited to bring censers to carry in the procession that will follow the Liturgy. Charcoal and incense will be provided.
- Vesting will take place 9:00-9:20 in the main hall of the Cathedral in order to greet His Beatitude at 9:30.
- Blue vestments will be worn.
- Altar servers in attendance are also encouraged to wear their robes, most especially for the procession.
- The faithful are also invited to carry banners and icons in the procession from Holy Trinity Cathedral to Saint George Cathedral, a distance of .8 miles.
- The Divine Liturgy will be sung by a designated choir, but singers are invited to sing for the Moleben and procession.
- All are invited to the banquet that will follow the procession.
“I look forward to seeing you at this diocesan celebration as we give thanks to God for the prayers and example given to us by Mary of Nazareth, the most-pure, most- holy, most-blessed and ever-glorious Mother of God. Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” concluded the Archbishop.”
