On the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Metropolitan Alexy celebrated the Liturgy in the church in the village of Vishnegorsktranslated

On the feast of the Nativity of the venerable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John, Metropolitan Alexy of Chelyabinsk and Miass celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist in the village of Vishnegorsk, Kasli district.

The ruling bishop was co-served by the dean of the Upper Ufaleysky deanery, Archpriest Alexander Gorodinsky, and the cleric of the temple, Priest Sergius Mishnev. The hymns of the service were performed by the Bishop's Choir under the direction of regent Marina Goman.

On July 7, Orthodox believers remember how the future prophet, named John, was born into the family of an elderly Jewish priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. He was sent by the Lord to prepare people to accept Christ the Savior by preaching repentance.

At the end of the Liturgy, the clergy and believers walked around the temple in a procession of the cross. Metropolitan Alexy congratulated the parishioners on their patronal holiday. The archpastor noted the greatness of John the Baptist and the fact that Christians in our country have long revered this saint.

“After the Mother of God, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. He is a martyr, a prophet, a preacher, and an apostle, that is, he receives the greatest grace from the Lord and intercedes for all those who love him...