Post by Mr Jinx on Nov 25, 2011 17:40:30 GMT
Half a million Russians queue to see belt of the Virgin Mary
Braving sub-zero temperatures and a line stretching several kilometres, almost half a million Russians queued this week to venerate a relic of the Virgin Mary brought to Moscow from Greece.
The Moscow authorities said 400,000 people had waited outside Moscow’s vast Cathedral of Christ the Saviour since The Belt of the Virgin Mary relic arrived on Saturday. Around 82,000 were queuing on Thursday alone.
In an extraordinary display of the strength of Orthodox Christianity in post-Soviet Russia, the faithful have stood in a queue stretching five kilometres (three miles).
The Belt of the Virgin Mary is believed to help women’s fertility and cure illnesses. It toured ten other Russian cities before arriving in the capital.
“There is something I need to ask. Nobody in this line is here just for fun,” said 40-year-old Ivan, who was waiting at the front of the line for his wife and child.
He said venerating the belt is especially meaningful since it rarely leaves Mount Athos, a Greek peninsula with very strict visitation policy, where only men are allowed to go.
“I joined the line at midnight, so it’s been about 12 hours,” he said. The wait could be up to 26 hours, news agencies said.
“I am 74, and I have suffered a heart attack. I am handicapped in my arm and leg,” said another man, identifying himself as Vladimir, after exiting the imposing white cathedral and leaning on his wife’s supporting arm.
“Maybe it will help?” he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
The head of the Moscow city centre prefecture Pavel Bolshunov told Russian news agencies that as of Thursday morning more than 407,000 people had visited the relic since the weekend and another 82,000 were currently waiting.
FULL STORY - www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8913048/Half-a-million-Russians-queue-to-see-belt-of-the-Virgin-Mary.html
Braving sub-zero temperatures and a line stretching several kilometres, almost half a million Russians queued this week to venerate a relic of the Virgin Mary brought to Moscow from Greece.
The Moscow authorities said 400,000 people had waited outside Moscow’s vast Cathedral of Christ the Saviour since The Belt of the Virgin Mary relic arrived on Saturday. Around 82,000 were queuing on Thursday alone.
In an extraordinary display of the strength of Orthodox Christianity in post-Soviet Russia, the faithful have stood in a queue stretching five kilometres (three miles).
The Belt of the Virgin Mary is believed to help women’s fertility and cure illnesses. It toured ten other Russian cities before arriving in the capital.
“There is something I need to ask. Nobody in this line is here just for fun,” said 40-year-old Ivan, who was waiting at the front of the line for his wife and child.
He said venerating the belt is especially meaningful since it rarely leaves Mount Athos, a Greek peninsula with very strict visitation policy, where only men are allowed to go.
“I joined the line at midnight, so it’s been about 12 hours,” he said. The wait could be up to 26 hours, news agencies said.
“I am 74, and I have suffered a heart attack. I am handicapped in my arm and leg,” said another man, identifying himself as Vladimir, after exiting the imposing white cathedral and leaning on his wife’s supporting arm.
“Maybe it will help?” he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
The head of the Moscow city centre prefecture Pavel Bolshunov told Russian news agencies that as of Thursday morning more than 407,000 people had visited the relic since the weekend and another 82,000 were currently waiting.
FULL STORY - www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8913048/Half-a-million-Russians-queue-to-see-belt-of-the-Virgin-Mary.html