A common cause through common efforts: the concept of a diocesan pilgrimage center was discussed in Samaratranslated

On July 16, 2026, a strategic session was held in the building of the diocesan Social and Cultural Pilgrimage Center "Orthodox Samara" dedicated to the development of a concept for the further development of the Center. The meeting brought together more than 30 participants - representatives of the clergy, authorities, science and education, culture, business, public organizations, as well as experts in the field of tourism. The head of the Department for Church Relations with the Public and Media of the Samara Diocese, Priest Nikolai Alexandrov, the General Director of the ANO MC “Academy of Family Values”, the rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the city of Novokuybyshevsk, Archpriest Artemy Mishchenko, as well as the General Director of the ANO “Orthodox Samara” Irina Nikolaevna Ponomareva addressed the participants of the strategic session with a welcoming speech. From the Samara diocese, the deputy head of the interuniversity department of theology and history of religions, candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor nun Sofia (Belchikova) took part in the strategic session; candidate of philosophical sciences, associate professor of the Samara Theological Seminary, ancient guardian of the Samara diocese Elena Vladimirovna Deeva; curator of the diocesan center “House for Mom” Oksana...