A long–distance bike ride is always about overcoming yourself. But faith and prayer strengthen. The parishioners of the church of the Great Martyr Dimitry of Solunsky in the village of Novye Paraty, Volzhsky district, managed to combine sports and spirituality, who annually make a pilgrimage trip in the form of a bike ride to the Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery.
On September 4, the Church celebrates the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God – for the Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God, this is a patronal holiday. And pilgrims from New Parat go to Raifa on bicycles on this day – such a tradition originated here in 2021.
Upon arrival at the monastery, believers from New Parat prayed at a festive divine service, which was led by six bishops: Metropolitan Sergius of Samara and Novokuibyshevsky, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Bishop Methodius of Almetyevsk and Bugulma, Bishop Thomas of Pokrovsky and Novouzensky, Bishop Peter of Kudymkar and Vereshchaginsky and Bishop Gabriel of Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga.
Having reverently attached themselves to the miraculous list of the Georgian Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was brought to Kazan in the XVI century and is now the main shrine of the Raifa Monastery, the pilgrims offered heartfelt prayers to the Queen of Heaven. After resting and gaining strength, we went home on bicycles, having traveled a total of 34 kilometers.