Russian Pilgrimage

	Story shot in June 2010
	One of the biggest orthodox mass pilgrimages in Russia holds annually in Vyatka Region, some 900 kilometers to the east from Moscow. Last year more than 20.000 pilgrims took place in the famous pilgrimage to the Velikaya River there. The pilgrims covered on foot altogether 150 kilometres from the regional capital Vyatka also known as Kirov to the sacred place on the Velikaya River, where the miracle-working icon of St Nicholas was found six hundreds years ago, and then back to Vyatka. The history of this pilgrimage has counted more than six centuries. During the communist age the pilgrimages were banned, however even in those times, despite of the resistance of the authorities, there were brave people who tried to reach the sacred place on the Velikaya River by forest paths with baskets pretended to be looking for mushrooms. Nowadays the tradition of mass pilgrimages were revived. Every year more and more people get over the painful route to the Velikaya River. 1. Mass pilgrimage to the Velikaya River in Vyatka Region, Russia. 2. Miracle-working icon of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from the Velikaya River. 3. The procession doesn't stop even in the heavy rain. 4. The short time for the rest. 5. The procession starts at 3 a.m. every day. 6. Miracle-working icon of St Nicholas from the Velikaya River is carried by priests all the time. 7. 8. 9. 10. The only protection against the rain. 11. 12. 13. 14. Some people get over the incredible road mud with bare feet. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Miracle-working icon of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from the Velikaya River. 22. 23. 24. The procession of pilgrims enters to the village of Velikoretskoye on the Velikaya River. 25. Candles on the place where the pilgrims gathered in secret on the Velikaya River during the communist age. 26. Mass bathing in the Velikaya River on the place where the miracle-working icon of St Nicholas was found. 27. 28. 29. 30. Local people from the village of Velikoretskoye. 31. 32. Pilgrims treating her blisters in the consecrated waters of the Velikaya River. 33. 34. Treatment of blisters during the mass pilgrimage to the Velikaya River. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Mass pilgrimage returns to Vyatka covered altogether 150 kilometers on foot.
	Copyright © 2010 Vova Pomortzeff