"My hope, Mother of God": a Liturgy was held at the site of the future Theodorov Church

      "Most Holy Theotokos, save us. My hope, Theotokos...". These words today, perhaps, sounded especially piercing here. At the site of the temple that Kirov once lost and is now trying to reclaim.

      On August 29, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the construction site of the church in honor of the Theodorov Icon of the Mother of God by the parish priest, Father Vitaly Lapshin. After the Liturgy, the faithful received the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

      Then a moleben before the Theodorov Icon of the Mother of God was led by Metropolitan Mark of Kirov and Slobodsky. At the end, the bishop sprinkled those gathered with holy water. For the parishioners, prayer in the open air has long become a part of life. By the blessing of Metropolitan Mark, from May 2024, molebens with an akathist to the Theodorov Icon of the Mother of God, prayers for Victory, and for the preservation of the lives of warriors on the battlefield, and litias for the deceased will be regularly held at the construction site. In the cold season, the community gathers on Saturdays after the Divine Liturgy at the Spassky Cathedral.

      But today's service was special also because the history of the Theodorov Church in Kirov seems to be undergoing a trial once again.

      The church that is returning

      Father Vitaly Lapshin reminded the parishioners of the fate of the shrine. The historic Theodorov Church was destroyed during the years of godlessness — it became the last church demolished in Vyatka during Soviet times.

      Decades later, the Theodorov Church returned to the embankment — first as a wooden structure. But in October 2022, it was lost to fire.

      Now a stone church — an exact copy of the historic shrine lost in 1962 — is being built on this site.

      — We are not just building a new church. We are recreating the church that was once destroyed by the inhabitants of our land, our city, — said Father Vitaly.

      He did not hide the fact that construction is proceeding more difficultly and slowly than initially expected.

      — Every good deed is not done without difficulties, without temptations. Therefore, we also face all these difficulties. Of course, what we wanted to accomplish in a very short time, unfortunately, is not happening. Let us not forget what time we live in, what trials our entire country has faced. But despite everything, the construction of the church is taking place. The construction of the church will soon resume.

      And here Father Vitaly spoke about what might be more important for those gathered than any construction schedules.

      All summer, parishioners came here every Saturday. To where there are still no familiar church walls and arches. They read the akathist to the Mother of God and prayed.

      — All this is not in vain. A miracle is taking place. Our prayers are heard by the Mother of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and through these prayers, the construction of the church will continue, — said the rector.

      He thanked the parishioners for their steadfastness and devotion to the Church, benefactors and builders, as well as everyone who helps in the revival of the Theodorov Church.

      A church of memory

      The future church will not only restore the lost city shrine. The church in honor of the Theodorov Icon of the Mother of God is dedicated to the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland — the warriors of Vyatka land who defended Russia at different times and participated in the special military operation.

      The construction is funded by donations from organizations, residents of Vyatka land, and parishioners.

      And perhaps that is why what is happening today on the embankment is hard to perceive merely as construction.

      The church is not yet there. Above the future arches, the sky remains open. Construction work stops and starts again; funds must be sought, and difficulties must be overcome.

      But the parish already exists. It lives in the people who come here to pray every Saturday. In the Liturgy celebrated in the open air. In Communion. In the old Theodorov Icon. In the drops of holy water with which Metropolitan Mark sprinkled the parishioners today.

      And in the very simple words of the prayer that sounded over Vyatka this morning:

      "Most Holy Theotokos, save us. My hope, Theotokos..."