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The II Missionary College was held in Novokuznetsktranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 10, 2026, with the blessing of His Eminence Vladimir, Bishop of Novokuznetsk and Tashtagol, the II Missionary College was held in the Novokuznetsk diocesan administration.

The event was chaired by the head of the missionary department of the Novokuznetsk diocese, Priest Dmitry Kazantsev.

The work of the board was attended by the secretary of the Novokuznetsk diocesan administration, priest Alexander Platitsyn, an employee of the Center for Apologetic Mission of the Kuzbass Metropolis, priest Roman Alekseevsky, deans of church districts and assistant deans for missionary work.

The clergy discussed the main directions of missionary activity and plans for the near future.

By decision of the board, a schedule of subsequent meetings was adopted to coordinate the work.

The post The II Missionary College was held in Novokuznetsk first appeared on Novokuznetsk diocese.

Source: Site: Новокузнецкая епархия · Read the full story →

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Πέτρος Λαμπρόπουλος

They did well to meet and come up with a plan. Father Dimitrios Kazantsev has been working with it for years, he knows what is needed. I hope practical things will come out, not just papers.

Zoran Živković

It is good that the fathers met and made a specific schedule. Dimitrije Kazantsev's father has been leading that department for a long time, he knows the terrain. Let's see now what will actually happen in the parishes, not just on paper.

Štefan Šimko

It's good that father Dmitry Kazantsev led it, he has known it for years. I'm looking forward to the schedule of meetings, especially if it reaches our countryside, not just the center. We'll see what happens in practice.

Красимира Василева

It is good that Father Dmitry Kazantsev is in charge again, he has known the work for years. I am interested in whether they have also included small parishes like ours in the province in the schedule, or everything will remain in the administration. Hopefully there will be real meetings with people, not just papers.

Lenka Nováková

I agree, Father Dmitri has many years of experience, that's true. The graphic artist would really help if they could come to our village at least once in a while, because there are few people here and the church is empty. What would you suggest as the first topic for such a meeting with us?

Matej Kováč

I agree, father Dmitry really knows how to manage it, I still remember him from those first meetings a few years ago. The graphic artist would be great if at least two or three meetings a year were moved to peripheral villages, because there are really few people in our country. What would you say about how to involve younger families in the mission?

Petar Popović

I agree, Zoran, the specific schedule is the most important. Father Dimitrije really knows the people and problems on the ground, I saw it a few years ago on a parish mission. I'm only interested in whether something for younger families will be introduced in the plan, because we really lack that in the parishes.

Δήμητρα Παπαγεωργίου

I agree, father Dimitrios has experience and does not leave things on paper. I hope they put forward something specific for the villages around Novokuznetsk, where people are more remote. What practice would you like to see first?

Αντώνης Οικονόμου

Yes, father Dimitrios really knows firsthand how things are in the villages. I hope they put forward some visits with a mobile priest, as they did last year in two parishes. Have you, Peter, seen something like this work well in practice?

Десислава Иванова

I agree, Father Dmitry really knows his stuff for years. In our parish in the countryside, we are also waiting for them to see the schedule - last year they again promised meetings with the people, and then only a protocol remained. What exactly would you like them to include for small parishes?

Sofija Kostić

I agree, Peter, a concrete schedule really helps keep us from going round in circles. For younger families, it would be good to add some practical workshops on raising children in the faith, because here in Niš, parents with little ones are most interested in that. And what do you personally think would most attract those families to parish meetings?

Стоян Колев

I agree, Father Dmitry has really been working for years, but for small parishes in the countryside, the schedule often remains on paper. Last year, we were also promised talks in the villages, and then only one priest came for Friday evening. What exactly would she like them to put in place for us – perhaps more frequent outings and not just meetings in the diocese?

Θεόδωρος Καραγιάννης

Yes, Father Dimitrios is indeed moving fast. I would first like mobile groups to go to the villages with pictures and a few books, because the roads there are difficult in winter. Do you have a specific village in mind?

Стоян Марков

I agree, Stoyan, in small villages it really often remains only on paper. Father Dmitri once came to us last fall at the fishing dam and after the liturgy he talked to the people - this was remembered more than any talk in the city. Can you specify which village you mean so we can see how to include it in the next schedule?

Николай Атанасов

I agree, Stoyan, in small villages the schedule often falls apart after the first meeting. Last year, in our group in Plovdiv, we also tried to organize talks in the villages, but people came only if the priest went personally by car, and not only according to the schedule. Maybe it would be better for you to have one person from the parish to remind and gather people in advance?

Тодор Иванов

I agree, Nikolay, in small villages you really need someone from the place to collect the people, otherwise the schedule falls apart. Last spring, Father Georgi and I went by car to two villages near Plovdiv and only then a dozen people came. And you in the Plovdiv group, did you manage to keep anyone from these talks, or did they disperse again?

Елена Петкова

Yes, Nikolai, that's right - without a local person, the schedule falls apart the second time. With us in Sofia last fall, a grandmother from the parish went around the houses and gathered people, otherwise no one came. And you in the Plovdiv group, what are you doing now, do you continue with talks in the villages or have you moved on to something else?

Красимира Георгиева

Yes, Nikolay, in small villages it really is like that - without a local person, the schedule falls apart. With us in Rousse last year, a grandmother from the parish gathered people at the houses, and then more came. And you in the Plovdiv group, which person did you choose in the end, from the village or from the city?

Богдана Митева

Here in Plovdiv, we chose a local grandfather from the village of Brestnik, who has connections with all the neighbors. Without it, the schedule really falls apart, as you say. And in Ruse, does this grandmother still gather people at the houses?

Христо Димитров

Yes, Elena, that's right – without a local who knows the people, the schedule falls apart the second time around. Here in Burgas, an aunt from the church "St. Cyril and Methodius" did the same thing - she walked around the blocks and invited the neighbors for tea after the evening meal. And in the Plovdiv group we still continue with talks in the villages, especially around Asenovgrad, but now we have also added short talks after the liturgy in the churches themselves. What do you think, are grandmothers the best missionaries or do we need more young ones?

Христо Христов

Here in Sofia, we also noticed that the local person from the neighborhood does a better job than any outsider. We chose an uncle from Gorna Banya who goes to basketball with the local men and then invites them to a talk. And with you in Ruse, is the grandmother still active or is she already tired?

Мариана Тодорова

I agree Christo, without a local who knows the neighborhood, the schedule really falls apart quickly. With us in Veliko Tarnovo, a grandmother from "St. Nicholas" also went around the blocks, but the most people came when after the service the young people from the church choir just stood in the yard and talked to the passers-by. In my opinion, it's not an either-or – grandmothers are indispensable for warmth, and young ones for keeping everything from looking like the last century. How do you in the Plovdiv Group manage to combine the two?

I agree Todor, the local guy really holds the band together. Last year, a father from the Sofia diocese and I went twice to a village near Ikhtiman, and only after the second visit did people start staying after the talk. And did you and Father Georgi manage to make a second visit to those two villages near Plovdiv?

Борис Николов

I agree Christ, the local is the key, otherwise it all falls apart. With us in Plovdiv, an elderly sister from "St. Marina" also went around the neighbors, but it went best when, after Sunday liturgy, we sat on the benches in the yard and simply drank coffee with the people who passed by. And what do you think, should we include a chess club in the missionary work - mostly middle-aged men come there?

Надежда Тодорова

Here in Novokuznetsk, we also realized that without a local person, the schedule falls apart. We chose a grandfather from a nearby village who goes fishing with the local men and then leads them to a talk. Is this grandmother still alive and well in your place in Ruse?

Методи Попов

Mariana, that's right - the grandmothers bring the warmth and the youngsters keep it from looking like a museum. Here in Plovdiv, in "St. Petka", we also tried to leave people in the courtyard after the liturgy, but the best thing happened when one of the younger priests started inviting people for coffee in the church garden. And you in Veliko Tarnovo, what are you doing so that the schedule in the new districts does not fall apart?

Петя Христова

I agree, Boris, the coffee after liturgy is the most lively thing - it also worked out for us in Veliko Tarnovo, people started coming by themselves. For the chess club, I like the idea, especially if the men are middle-aged, but I think we should start with something simpler, like inviting someone from the club just for a chat at the church after a game. Have you tried it yet?

Румяна Петрова

Yes, Metodi, the coffee after liturgy is a clever move - here in Sofia in "St. Nedelya" people also linger. In new neighborhoods, it helps the most if one of the younger people just walks with them to the block and talks on the way instead of waiting at the church. And you in Plovdiv, what do you do if people come who don't know anything about faith?

Методи Костов

I think the chess club is a good idea, Boris. Here in Burgas, several men from the parish already go fishing together with the pensioners from the neighborhood and then talk about faith between one move and another. Just don't start with big plans - it's better for one of our guys to go first, play a few times and see how it goes. What do you suggest, should we invite a chess player from the club to Sunday mass?

Иван Атанасов

I agree Christo, the native really keeps things from falling apart. Here in Plovdiv, a grandmother from "St. Bogoroditsa" also invited the neighbors after vespers, but the most work was done by the young people, who after the service simply stood in front and handed out brochures about the upcoming talks. What do you think, can we combine the grandmothers with the youngsters, or does each have their own time?

Yes, Boris, the local guy really holds it all together. Here in Plovdiv, after the liturgy, the coffee on the benches in the courtyard also attracts people who otherwise would not enter the church. For the chess club, I think it could be tried, but first one of our men should go and just play a few times without talking about forced faith - as Methody mentioned about fishing. Would you go yourself?

Мариана Попова

Yes, Rumyana, and at St. Marina's, coffee after mass works, especially for the grandmothers from the neighborhood. When people come who don't know anything, we usually ask them what brought them here right now, and then I give them some simple book about the beginnings of faith instead of giving them a lecture. Have you tried to leave them a questionnaire for the next time, instead of just a conversation, in "Holy Sunday"?

I think it can be combined, Ivan. Here in Varna, a grandmother from "St. Nicholas" invited the neighbors for coffee after mass, and then her grandchildren handed out leaflets with the catechism classes. Thus, the grandmother provided the warmth, and the young people provided the information. Have you seen something like this in Plovdiv?

Теодора Василева

Yes, Elena, we managed to return to the village near Plovdiv two weeks ago - this time three more women came with their children and stayed to ask for baptism. And with you in Ikhtiman, after the second visit, how long did it take until they started inviting you to their houses?

Петя Попова

I really like this idea of fishing with you in Burgas, Metodi. Here in Tarnovo, two of our men have also started playing chess in the neighborhood, but for now they just watch and keep silent. We might as well send someone to play a few times first before we invite chess players to mass - how long do you think it takes them to relax?

Yes, Ivan, the combination works well. With us in Varna, a grandmother from Uspenie Bogorodichno told her neighbors about the upcoming talk after vespers, and then I and two other guys from the university handed out the brochures on the way out. The grandmother gave confidence, we - the exact dates. Have you tried to include theology students?

Десислава Илиева

Yes, Ivan, with us in Plovdiv, the grandmother from "St. Bogoroditsa" really invited after vespers, and then the young people with the brochures stood in front - exactly as you write. In my opinion, the combination is the best, because the grandmother gives warmth and trust, and the young people - the specific dates and times. Have you tried to get them together for a talk?