Priest-bloggers followed the path of Semyon Bondarenko | Elista and Kalmyk diocesetranslated

On September 8, 2026, as part of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Savior in Elista, priest-bloggers Hieromonk Seraphim (Shanin), Priest Alvian Tkhelidze and Priest John Popov walked the path of Semyon Timofeevich Bondarenko, one of the eyewitnesses of the appearance of Christ the Savior in Elista. The procession began from the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Trinity. It was from Troitsky that Semyon Timofeevich walked on foot to Elista for Sunday services at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. On the final section of the route, at the site of the first houses of Elista, local historian Roman Gritsa joined the participants. He talked about the history of the city, where the first houses of Elista were located, when the first church was built and who became the first clergyman of the city. The procession ended at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. The participants brought a portrait of Semyon Timofeevich Bondarenko to the place of his burial, where a funeral litany was held.