In May of this year, customs officers in Grodno discovered a silver church cup that was illegally transported across the Kamenny Log border checkpoint.It was seized and confiscated by a court order. Following a request from the Grodno Regional Customs, the chalice was transferred to the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Grodno.
It is symbolic that the handover ceremony took place on 20 October, the day of the celebration of the convent’s main shrine - the Vladimir Myrrh-Streaming Icon of the Mother of God. This underscores the significance of the chalice (the term for a communion cup in Christianity), as it symbolizes the very first cup from which the Savior gave communion to the apostles at the Last Supper.
A liturgy was held in the church, after which Head of the Grodno Regional Customs Aleksandr Pikhun gave the sacred chalice over to Mother Superior Gavriila of the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in the presence of Archbishop Gury of Novogrudok and Slonim, the head of the Zhirovichi Dormition Monastery.
Aleksandr Pikhun noted the importance of the moment, emphasizing that the chalice has ended up where it belongs and will be used for its sacred purpose: to serve God and the people.
The Grodno Regional Customs and the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Convent have been cooperating for over 30 years. Over these years, many icons and items for religious services have been transferred to the monastery.
"You could say we are working together towards a common goal. Customs officers protect economic security, while clergy are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the personnel. Together, we serve for the benefit of our Fatherland," Aleksandr Pikhun emphasized.
Mother Superior Gavriila thanked the customs officers for the Holy Chalice, a priceless gift, not in a material, but in a spiritual sense. "Today, on the feast day of the miraculous Icon of the Mother of God 'Vladimir Myrrh-Streaming,' the protector of our monastery, another sacred object has found its worthy and much-needed place in our community," Mother Superior Gavriila noted. “Indeed, icons and sacred objects should not be stored in museums or galleries. After all, every icon painter creates an icon for a church, for people to pray before it. The same is true for the chalice. It is strictly intended for the communion of the faithful with the Holy Eucharist."
Mother Superior Gavriila reminded everyone of the importance of this sacrament in every person's life and urged all to find time to visit the church: "After the chalice is consecrated, parishioners will receive Holy Communion from it. The Gospel says, whoever does not receive communion cannot have eternal life with God. Therefore, a very great gift has been given to our holy convent and to the Orthodox Church as a whole today."
