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Archpastoral Visit of Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofiy to Priozersktranslated

October 4, 2026 · 1 min read

On the 18th Week after Pentecost, the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of our Lord, on October 4, Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofiy, temporarily administering the Vologda Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Priozersk.

His Eminence was served by the eparchial secretary, protopriest Sergei Kuksevich, the Vologda eparchial secretary, protopriest Igor Aksonov, the dean of the Priozersk deanery, protopriest Sergei Belkov, the abbot of the Konovsky Monastery, archimandrite Alexander (Arva), the rector, protopriest Dimitry Zvezdilin, and other clergy.

Deacon Alexander Zhdanov, the reader of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Krasnodar, was ordained a deacon.

Metropolitan addressed the faithful with a sermon.

An icon of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was presented to the church. A cross with decorations was given to the rector.

Father Dimitry thanked the metropolitan for the joint prayer and presented him with a painting of the cathedral in Priozersk.

The deputy head of the Priozersk district administration, Ivan Plytus, greeted the archpastor with a welcoming word.

Source: Выборгская епархия · Read the full story →

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Elena Stoica

Thank you for the news. I am glad that the subdeacon Alexander Jdanov was ordained to the diaconate right there, in the cathedral in Priel'zhsksk – it seems to bring a bit of prosperity from Krasnodar in the north. And I liked the gesture with the icon given to the temple, plus Father Dimitry offered the metropolitan a painting of the cathedral. A simple and beautiful visit.

Daniel Baker

Good to see Fr Dimitry Звездилин and the whole crew serving together. Nice touch giving the metropolitan that painting of the cathedral — he’ll probably hang it back home in St Petersburg. The ordination of Alexander Zhdanov from Krasnodar right there in Priozersk is a good reminder how the Church moves people around.

Vasilika Thanasi

I really liked the icon of the Nativity of the Mother of God that was donated to the cathedral, because it is the feast that just passed. I am glad that Father Dimitrin thanked him for the joint service and gave him a painting of the church - something simple and warm. As for the handover of the city Aleksandr Zhdanov from Krasnodar, I think it will be a good help for that community there in Priozersk.