The Czar Bell, the biggest one in the entire Orthodox Christian world, was hoisted on to the belfry of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Laura. The CenterTelecom specialists ensured the Internet coverage of this outstanding event.
On Bright Friday, 16 April 2004, on the Icon of the Mother of God "The Live-Bearing Spring" observance day, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexius II conducted the Divine Liturgy in the Refectory Cathedral. After ending the Liturgy, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexius II led the Cross and Icon-Bearing procession, and sanctified the Czar Bell.
In the presence of over ten thousand worshippers, the newly cast bell was hoisted on to the Laura's belfry. The weight of the bell is 72 tons, height - 4.55 m, diameter - about 4.5 m. The bell is an exact copy of its predecessor that adorned the belfry before 1930.
The entire Russia participated in the rebirth of the Czar Bell. Large and small enterprises, entrepreneurs and private individuals made donations to share in its revival. JSC CenterTelecom also took part in this act of charity. The names of the donators are molded on the Bell. Among them is the name of the JSC CenterTelecom General Director. The hoisting of the "Czar" lasted for about 45 minutes, and its first ringing will be heard on 30 May, the Holy Trinity Day.
Using the performance capabilities of the Moscow Region up-to-date multiservice network, JSC CenterTelecom accomplished the on-line coverage of the event on the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Laura's web site and the Company's site www.centertelecom.ru.
Upon completion of the ceremony, His Holiness cordially thanked the father superior of the Laura, his immediate associates, and those made donations for the bells restoration, taking pains and care to bring back to life the bells of the Laura's belfry. "God will merit generously the good-doers for their love of Orthodox devoutness and chimes of church bells", he said.
Historical flashback
This Czar Bell is the biggest one in Russia in the actual use, weighing over 4000 poods (64 tons , 1 pood = 16 kg) (as narrated by the castors that molded the bell, its weight was 4065 poods = 65 tons and 40 kg), its clapper having the weight of some 90 poods (1.44 tons), cast in the Laura in the year 1748 and hoisted on to the belfry (in the middle of its 2nd storey) in 1759, which is employed for ringing on the Twelve Major Festivals of the Church and highly solemn days.
The Bell was thrown off the Laura's belfry in January 1930.
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