Traditional Youth Walking Odigitria Procession Started in Vitebsk
04.08.2026
The traditional youth walking Odigitria procession started today in Vitebsk. For 22 years now, pilgrims have annually covered a 120-kilometer route in August to participate in the celebrations in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Odigitria" in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk.
The Orthodox Church honors one of its ancient relics on August 10. According to tradition, the icon of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos. According to one legend, in 1046, the Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos blessed his daughter Anna with it when she married Prince Vsevolod of Chernigov, son of Yaroslav the Wise. As this icon accompanied Princess Anna on her journey from Tsargrad to Chernigov, it received the name "Odigitria" ("Guide").
After the death of Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich and his wife Anna, the icon passed to their son Vladimir Monomakh, who moved the family relic from Chernigov to Smolensk and placed it in the cathedral church in honor of the Assumption of the Theotokos. Since then, the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Odigitria" has been called the "Smolensk" icon. It is believed that one of its miracles was the deliverance of the city from the Tatars.
The fate of the original icon is unknown; currently, a miraculous copy made in 1602 is in its place in the Assumption Cathedral.
After the divine service in the Holy Assumption Cathedral, the Orthodox youth set off on a religious procession. The first stop is at the monument to Alexander Nevsky, followed by visits to the Holy Protection Church, the churches of Saint Martyr Tatiana, and Saint Basil the Great. Concerts featuring creative groups from the Vitebsk Diocese are planned at stops along the route.
On Saturday, August 6, in Liozno, the participants of the religious procession will take part in the Divine Liturgy, and after crossing the border, Russian pilgrims will join the Belarusian ones. On their journey, the Orthodox youth fervently pray before the icon of the Mother of God for peace on earth and in families, and for help during their travels.
The culmination of the religious procession of youth Orthodox groups will be participation in the celebrations in Smolensk on Cathedral Hill in the Assumption Cathedral.