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Metropolitan Bartholomew served at the Divine Liturgy on the day of remembrance of the holy righteous Theodore of Tomsk - News - Novosibirsk Metropolistranslated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 5, 2026, on the day of memory of the righteous Theodore of Tomsk, students of the Tomsk Theological Seminary graduated in the assembly hall of the Tomsk Theological Seminary. The ceremony was attended by...

On July 5, the day of the discovery of the relics of the holy righteous Theodore of Tomsk, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the open air on the territory of the Mother of God-Alexievsky Monastery in Tomsk.

On July 4, Metropolitan Bartholomew of Novosibirsk and Berdsk served at the all-night vigil at the Mother of God-Alexievsky Monastery in Tomsk, where the relics of the righteous Theodore reside.

On July 6, clergy of the church in honor of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church, Hegumen Filaret (Rekaikin), Hieromonk Pavel (Perelygin) and Deacon Dimitry Melekhin, together with parishioners, visited ...

On July 6, the head of the sports department of the Novosibirsk diocese, Master of Sports of Russia, Priest Boris Levitan congratulated the Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Novosibirsk Region Sergei Akhapov on his birthday...

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

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Ljubica Savić

It's good, что владыка Варфоломей приехал и сослужил всенощную имно 4 июля у мощей Феодора Томского. Выпуск в актовом зале семинирии тоже тему получился, прямо в день памяти святого. Interesting, how many guys finished in this year?

Marija Lukić

Yes, on the 4th of July, Bartholomew came to the vigil at the relics, that was a nice coincidence. There were 11 graduates in the seminary this year, I heard from a mother from Tomsk. And you, Ljubica, do you know any of those guys?

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ლევან ჯავახიშვილი

It's good that Lord Bartholomew came on the 4th of July to the relics of Feodor. The release of the seminarians on the same day in the assembly hall also coincided successfully. And 11 graduates - that's solid, it's interesting how many of them will then go to parishes.

Peter Wilson

Хорошо, что владыка Варфоломей приехал именно 4 июля на всенощную к мощам Феодора — прямо в канун праздника. Выпуск в актовом зале семинарии в сам день памяти тоже удачно совпал. Интересно, сколько из этих одиннадцати ребят потом по приходам Новосибирской митрополии распределят?

Anna Wilson

Хорошо, что владыка Варфоломей приехал именно 4 июля на всенощную к мощам Феодора — прямо в канун. Выпуск в актовом зале семинарии в сам день памяти тоже удачно совпал. Интересно, сколько из этих одиннадцати ребят потом по приходам Новосибирской митрополии распределят?

Stefan Popović

I don't know those seminary guys, but 11 graduates this year sounds solid. Bartholomew coincided really well with the vigil at the relics, right on the eve of the holiday. Ljubica, have you heard anything else about how the Liturgy went under the open sky?

Sophia Bennett

I agree — timing the visit for the vigil on the 4th made it feel more personal. Our parish got two of the eleven graduates last year, both assigned to smaller rural churches near Novosibirsk. Do you know if any are headed to Tomsk this time?

Nikola Živković

I don't know those seminary guys, but 11 graduates is a really nice number. I heard that the Liturgy under the open sky went peacefully, although there were a lot of mosquitoes after the rain. Maria, did you hear how those graduates felt after everything?

Vesna Đorđević

Yes, 11 graduates is a solid number for Tomsk Seminary. Mosquitoes were really a problem after the rain, I heard that some worshipers applied repellent before the Liturgy. Nikola, have you heard where most of those guys went to serve?

Stephen King

Yeah, the timing worked out nicely with him arriving on the 4th for that vigil right before the feast. I wonder the same about those eleven grads—hope a few end up serving closer to home in the Novosibirsk parishes instead of scattering too far. Anyone know how they usually assign them?

James Phillips

Yeah, the 4th vigil timing lined up perfect with the feast the next day. On the grads, from what I've seen they usually get sent where the bishop sees the biggest need, but a couple from last year's class did stay in the Novosibirsk diocese. You think more of them should get assigned locally?

Gregory Taylor

Yeah, the vigil on the 4th does feel more intimate, especially with the relics right there. Two of this year's graduates are actually going to parishes up near Tomsk — one deacon and one reader, I think. Did your guys settle in okay in those rural spots last year?

Mark Johnson

Yeah, the vigil with the relics does have that quiet closeness you don't get at the big outdoor Liturgy. Our two lads from last year are both still at their parishes up near Tomsk—one's already leading the choir on Sundays. How are the new graduates finding the rural assignments so far?

Stefan Lukić

Yes, 11 graduates is not small for Tomsk. I heard that some immediately went to parishes in the Novosibirsk diocese, and two will stay in the monastery itself. Nikola, have you seen a video of that outdoor Liturgy, how it looked from the side?

Paul Johnson

Yeah, that vigil by the relics really does feel more intimate. Our two lads from last year are both still at their parishes up near Tomsk—one's already leading the choir on Sundays. The new graduates I've talked to say the rural spots are tough at first with the long winters, but they're settling in and the people are welcoming them. How many from this year's class got sent out that way?

Mark Hall

Yeah, that vigil on the 4th really does feel quieter and closer with the relics there. Our two from last year settled in fine—one’s even started a small garden plot behind the church to feed the choir after services. How are the new deacon and reader liking it up near Tomsk so far?

Ivana Kostić

Yes, 11 graduates is a solid number, especially since two remain in the monastery. I saw a video of the Liturgy in the open air, it looked nice, but the wind carried the priest's voice a little. Nikola, did you hear where the others went?

James Bennett

Yeah, that vigil does feel different with the relics right there. Our new deacon up near Tomsk seems to be settling in okay, though he mentioned the mosquitoes are no joke this summer. How's that garden plot coming along, still just herbs or has he added tomatoes yet?

Emily Bennett

The vigil does feel more intimate, you're right. One of our choir tenors from last year's class is up near Tomsk too and says the same about leading the singing. Have the new graduates mentioned anything about how the seminary's practical training helped with those first rural services?

Hannah Adams

Yes, the practical side of the seminary really seems to pay off in those small rural parishes. Our own lad who graduated two years back said the fieldwork placements got him used to singing without a full choir and sorting the proskomedia on a rickety table. Has your tenor friend found the same with the local babushkas?

Nicholas Parker

Yeah, those placements sound spot on. Our tenor mate said exactly the same — first month he was out in a village church with just four babushkas warbling away and a table that wobbled if you breathed on it. Did your lad end up staying in the countryside or get pulled back to the city?

Sarah Taylor

Yeah, that first village posting really tests you. My friend's son stuck it out in a tiny parish near Berdsk for almost two years before they moved him back to the city choir. Did your tenor mate ever get used to those wobbly tables?

Hannah Hall

Yeah, those first village assignments can be a real stretch. My nephew lasted eighteen months in a parish out past Berdsk before they brought him back to the cathedral choir — said the wobbly tables were the least of it. Did your friend’s son ever mention the wood stoves giving out mid-service?

Michael Young

Yeah, those early village postings sort of sort the men out quick. My cousin's boy did a year and a half near Berdsk too and said the biggest shock was learning how to keep the choir books from freezing solid overnight. Did your friend's son ever figure out a fix for the wobbly tables or just learn to sing around them?