After the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sunday, November 14, 2021 (in memory of the Saints Anargyroi Cosmas and Damian), Bishop of Vevey Vladyka Alexandre blessed the statuette of Saint Barbara placed in the “grotto” of the old fountain in the church garden. The clergy of the church, as well as Archimandrite Martin (de Caflisch), hegumen of the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Dompierre and Dean of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Switzerland, assisted at the ceremony.
This cast iron effigy of “Saint Barbara of the Swiss army forts” was traditionally placed at the entrance to fortifications and galleries pierced in the mountains by the Swiss army before the Second World War, when bellicose threats were hanging over Europe. Patroness of artillerymen, of all trades related to fire, of deminers, underground miners, workers, and engineers of underground works, she was also supposed to protect against fire and lightning.
After being passed from father to son in the Wittlin family of senior officers, this statuette was given to the Orthodox parish of Vevey by Colonel Luc Monnier. The donation was made in memory of Vladyka Ambrose (Cantacuzène, 1947-2009), the first Bishop of Vevey.
