The Catherine's church of
Slobodskoy is mentioned in the
documents of
1615, 1623 and 1646. In the
Domozhirovs inventory book it is
characterized as
«wooden...
with a dining-table. There is an icon of
the Pure Virgin with a baby in the
church, a big belt on the bell-tower, a donation from the Sovereign,
and 7 secular bells».
Since 1945
till 1994 the Catherine's
cathedral was the only functioning temple
in the town. Thanks to this fact many
sacred objects are well preserved in the
cathedral. Now in the cathedral there is a manuscript copy of the
miracle-working icon of the God's Mother «In Sorrow and
Grief is Consolation» marvellously saved
by believers after the Christmas monastery
had been closed. Each Friday at the
end of the evening liturgy, with
the exception of holidays, a public prayer with
the akathistus to the God's Mother is
said
in front of it. There is also an icon of Saint
Catherine, a great martyr, with a small
part of her sacred
relics.
During the last year and a half the staff of the
cathedral's clergy has been almost completely changed. The Head of
the Vyatka eparchy, Metropolitan
of Vyatka and Slobodskoy Khrisanf has laid the crucial
service at the second pulpit on young
priests. Appointment of young
pastors to Slobodskoy has become
a good tradition. The Metropolitan takes special paternal
care of the young priests. No affair in the cathedral is taken
without his blessing. Wise
recommendations of the archipastor
are especially appreciated by
the young priests, but what is much more valuable is his prayer care
of the second pulpit. Each
slobozhanin can pray together with the Metropolitan in
Catherine's cathedral several times a year, ask for his blessing
and advice and obtain them.
