Celebrations dedicated to the Prophet Elijah Memorial Day took place in the center of Moscow on August 2, 2026. The festive events were held with the permission of the President of the Russian Federation.
The holiday began at 7:00 with a water prayer to the prophet Elijah on Ilyinka Street near the temple in honor of the prophet of God Elijah in the former Novgorod courtyard in Kitay-Gorod.
The Divine Liturgy on the day of the patronal feast of the church was led by Bishop Seraphim of Istra, First Deputy Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, co-served by Bishop John of Pakrack and Slavonia (Serbian Orthodox Church) and the clergy of the Moscow (City) Diocese.
Bishop Seraphim preached the sermon after reading the Gospel. Liturgical hymns were performed by the church choir under the direction of regent Peter Savinkov.
At the end of the Liturgy, a traditional procession to Red Square and a prayer service to the Prophet of God Elijah at the Place of the Cross were held, which was led by Bishop Seraphim. The bishop conveyed to the audience the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Congratulations from the President of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Mayor of Moscow were read out from the Front. On a screen installed next to the Pokrovsky Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral), a video message was broadcast by the commander of the Airborne Forces, Hero of the Russian Federation, Colonel General M.Y. Teplinsky, who addressed the paratroopers and guests of the festive events.
The celebrations on Red Square continued with demonstration performances by the honor guard company, a solemn march by the parade crews of the Airborne Forces and youth clubs from different regions of the Russian Federation. In total, seven military-patriotic clubs from Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and other cities participated. A concert prepared by the Airborne Forces song and dance ensemble was held in Zaryadye Park in the small amphitheater, and a charity meal from the field kitchen was organized on Varvarovskaya Square.
As part of the celebration of the 420th anniversary of the Ilyinsky Alarm bell, which sounded from the bell tower of the church of the Prophet of God Elijah, a bell ringing festival was held: guests of the festival were able to listen to various types of bells on portable belfries installed on Ilyinka Street and in Zaryadye Park.
The celebration was held using a grant from the President of the Russian Federation provided by the Presidential Grants Fund, with the participation and support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the Government of Moscow, the Command and veteran organizations of the Airborne Troops.
More than 2,000 people took part in the celebration.