Large-scale celebrations were held in Poland in honor of the Supraśl Icon of the Mother of God

Thousands of Orthodox believers from Poland, Estonia, and other countries gathered in Supraśl on August 9–10 to venerate the Supraśl Icon of the Mother of God “Odigitria.” Pilgrims made their way to the monastery on foot from Białystok and by kayak down the river from Grudka. This was reported by , the official website of the Polish Orthodox Church.

The festive events included an all-night vigil and three liturgies, culminating in a service at an open altar led by Archbishop Jacob of Białystok and Gdańsk. In his sermon, Father Jan Fedorchuk emphasized the special significance of the Mother of God as an intercessor, to whom the faithful come with prayers for help and gratitude. The abbot of the monastery, Bishop Andrew of Supraśl, thanked those who participated in the celebrations, noting the symbolism of this year: it marks the 1,400th anniversary of the first recitation of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God, which is traditionally performed at the monastery every week.

The Supraśl Monastery, founded in the early 16th century, is a major historical center of Orthodoxy in Poland. Its main relic—the “Odigitria” icon—was lost during World War I, when the monks were forced to leave the region. Today’s pilgrims pray before a venerated 19th-century copy of the icon. This year, the celebration took on an international dimension: for the first time, believers from Estonia arrived as part of an organized group to participate in the festivities.