On the memorial day of St. Arseny, Bishop of Tver, and the Cathedral of Tver Saints, on July 19, 2026, celebrations dedicated to the 755th anniversary of the founding of the Tver Diocese were held in Tver.
Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashinsky led the festive Divine Liturgy at the Transfiguration Cathedral. He was co-served by Metropolitan Viktor (Oleinik), Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, clergy of the Archdiocese of Tver and other dioceses.
The service was attended by the abbesses of the monasteries of Tver land, numerous pilgrims from different regions of Russia and Belarus, as well as guests from Indonesia and Malaysia. The Liturgy was attended by representatives of federal and regional authorities, the public, heads of Tver universities and cadets of the Military Academy of Aerospace Defense named after Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov.
Liturgical hymns were performed by the Moscow Synodal Choir under the direction of Alexei Puzakov and the Episcopal Choir of the Transfiguration Cathedral under the direction of Tatiana Dmitrishina. After a special litany, a prayer for Holy Russia was read.
At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Ambrose addressed the participants of the celebrations. The archpastor emphasized that the 755-year history of the diocese is the result of the labors of many generations of clergy and laity who have preserved the Orthodox faith in the Tver land. His Eminence called for carefully preserving this spiritual heritage and passing it on to future generations.
Metropolitan Ambrose thanked the bishops, clergy, monastics, government officials, benefactors, pilgrims and all those who participated in the organization of the holiday. Special words of appreciation were addressed to Metropolitan Victor, who headed the Tver Diocese for thirty years, and to Metropolitan Sergius, who arrived with pilgrims and clergy from Southeast Asian countries.
The Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergius, noted the importance of the Tver land in the history of the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church. According to him, the anniversary of the diocese should become not only an occasion to remember the past, but also an invitation to continue the spiritual labors of previous generations.
Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, the administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, sent congratulations on the occasion of the 755th anniversary of the Tver Diocese. The head of the Tver Region, V.G. Korolev, also addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.
In memory of the feast day, Metropolitan Ambrose presented the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral with a hagiographic icon of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow. The clergy and abbesses of the monasteries, who made a significant contribution to the church life of the region, were awarded diocesan awards. The participants of the celebrations were also presented with commemorative plaques with images of the Holy Prince Mikhail of Tver and the Holy Princess Anna Kashinskaya.
The festive program continued at the walls of the cathedral. A presentation of Tver printed gingerbread weighing more than 100 kilograms, made by the Unzhakov family from Konakov according to an old recipe, took place here. Photo exhibitions and an exhibition of children's drawings dedicated to the history of the diocese were prepared for the guests. The Moscow Synodal Choir performed on the steps of the cathedral.
The celebrations ended with a festive reception at the cathedral's spiritual and educational center.