GENEVA: March 9, 2020
The First Week of Great Lent and the Triumph of Orthodoxy at Elevation of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Switzerland's capital

At the beginning of the spiritual spring, Great Lent, which began on Monday, March 2, 2020, the regular cycle of services commenced at the Elevation of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite the workday, many parishioners were in attendance at the services, as Protopriest Pavel Tsvetkoff read the Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete. After grand compline, litanies for the dead were performed.

On Wednesday morning, the first Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts was celebrated, led by Protopriest Emelian Pocinoc. Several dozen people partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

On Sunday, the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, worshipers overfilled the cathedral. Hundreds of worshipers made confession and partook of the Holy Gifts. Divine Liturgy was headed by Fr Pavel and Fr Emelian. In his sermon, Fr Pavel discussed the origin of this holiday and the importance of the veneration of icons for every Christian. He then congratulated everyone and pointed out the importance for everyone to labor intensively over their spiritual life during Lent.

A moleben was then performed by the cathedral's clergymen, after which a special Sunday school lesson was taught to the parish children.