“An extraordinary love of peace distinguished him...”translated

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, on October 11, the Orthodox residents of Stary Oskol said goodbye to the rector of the Ascension Church, Archpriest Vasily Rachk. He zealously carried out pastoral ministry for 46 years, of which 42 years were devoted to caring for the believers of Stary Oskol and the region. It is symbolic that Father Vasily’s pastoral path began in 1980 in the Ascension Church in Ulan-Ude, where he was ordained a priest. And his earthly path ended in the church consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord in the city of Stary Oskol. He served as rector of this house of God for 12 years and now rests at its foot. The funeral liturgy and funeral service were performed by Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, co-served by the clergy of the diocese. In his sermon, the bishop shared his memories of the good shepherd: “I remember my first meeting with him. This was in Irkutsk, under the then Archbishop of Irkutsk and Chita Juvenal. Father Vasily began his ministry in the Ascension Cathedral in Chita.

And there he was ordained a priest, and also entered the Moscow Theological Seminary in order to then serve under the Archbishop of Irkutsk and Chita Juvenal. He served in...