"November 21 - St.Michael's Feast Day" Yelenovka Travelogue by hunterV

There were surprisingly many cars and buses at the entrance to the cathedral. Pilgrims arrived to take part in the Feast Day liturgy!
That happens only once or twice a year.
Easter is a big holiday here too.

Lots of cars and buses at the entrance

There were both pilgrims and locals there.
I did not have to stand all the service from beginning to end and could go in and out any time I felt like it.
This is what differs our churches from the Catholic ones and perhaps from many other churches where you are supposed to sit till the end of the service.

Lots of people inside

I was late for the beginning of the liturgy, but in spite of it, I could enter the hall.
There were lots of people and it was impossible to come any nearer to the altar.

It grew stuffy every hour

The liturgy lasted for about four hours.

Good tradition

I stood in the entrance hall near St.Michael's icon and listened.

Praying at St.Michael's Icon

This icon was especially popular on that day. Lots of people came up to it and prayed.

There was a lot of bread inside

Many people brought loaves of bread and either gave them to the priest as a gift of had them sanctified to take back home.

The lunch was at the village club

After the liturgy and the cross procession were over, the pilgrims were invited to the village club where they were treated to traditional lunch sponsored by a local businessman.
They were also treated to Cahors wine that is a church wine here and is always used for eucarist here.