News from the Holy Ascension Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in Barnaul, Russia

His Eminence Sophrony, Archbishop of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia, made an archpastoral visit to Altai! The parish in honor of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord is under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Sophrony. Since 2010, the parish has been part of our Church, having endured several arson attacks on its church building in the city of Barnaul and much slander from the Moscow Patriarchate. During his visit, on the feast of Holy Trinity, Archbishop Sophrony celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy and awarded the parish rector, Archpriest Georgy Titov, the right to wear the palitsa; the second priest of the parish, Priest Nikita Titov, the right to wear the gold cross; and Deacon Georgy of the parish the right to wear the kamilavka. In his sermons and archpastoral exhortations, Vladika highly praised the spiritual journey of the parish as it navigates the waves of the sea of life, especially urging the faithful to continue relying on the Gospel and, through their conduct, to proclaim Christ our God who loves us. The Archbishop’s long and heartfelt conversations with his God-loving spiritual children will remain unforgettable. With words of gratitude and hope for the next meeting, His Eminence departed from our parish.