Welcome to the parish website of the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church located in Des Plaines, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Our church is a prominent place of worship for all the Russian Orthodox who live in Chicago and has as its goal the preservation of the spiritual traditions and the treasure of church services of ancient Russian Orthodoxy.  We are glad you are visiting our site and would like to invite you to acquaint yourself with our church and parish by exploring other pages. We hope to see you in person in our church where you will be able to enjoy the iconographic art and paintings, to hear the splendid singing of our choir and to share in the joy of our Divine Services.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Wednesday, September 8th, the church commemorates the memory of SS Natalia and Adrian as well as the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.  Vigil service is served on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM and Divine Liturgy on Wednesday at 8 AM.  We congratulate all the Natalia's of our parish on their namesday!

The Akafist to the Protection of the Mother of God will be served on Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM as usual.

On Sunday, September 5th, the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral hosted a gathering of all past and present participants of the diocesan summer camp ORPR.  At the end of the Divine Liturgy a gramota from Metropolitan Hilaron was presented to the organizers of the camp and George Ignatiev was awarded a 4th star for his long-time service to the camp.  A luncheon was held in the church hall during which past campers recounted their life-long remembrances and friendships from summer camp.

DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS

Thanks be to God, we were once again able this year to celebrate the feast of the Dormition according to the Jerusalem rite.  Starting at midnight on August 28th, the matins began with the singing of the familiar melody "The Noble Joseph" but with words from the Jerusalem service pertaining to the Dormition.  As on Good Friday, the praises were sung to the verses of Ps. 118 over the shroud of the Virgin, followed by a procession with the cross at the end of matins.  The Divine Liturgy began straightways after this with 53 people receiving Holy Communion.  Later in the morning a second liturgy was served and the church was again full, this time mainly with parents and their children, most of whom also partook of the Holy Mysteries.

TRANSFIGURATION

The summer feast of the Lord, His Transfiguration, was celebrated quietly but triumphantly.  It was especially joyous to feel the unapproachable light when we are fasting and preparing ourselves for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  Despite the fact that the holiday fell on a weekday, the temple was full and 92 people partook of the Holy Mysteries.  Following the Divine Liturgy, there was a blessing of the fruits in the church hall.

PROCESSION OF THE CROSS

On August 14th, the Church celebrated the holiday of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross.  This is the first feast of the Savior in August and for this reason carries the Russian name "First Savior".  By tradition, after the Divine Liturgy, there was a blessing of the waters.