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Metropolitan Longin celebrated the Liturgy in the destroyed church in the village of Poldomasovotranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 9, on the day of remembrance of the Venerable David of Thessalonica, the celebration in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Longin of Simbirsk and Novospassky celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. Poldomasovo. Concelebrating with His Eminence were the dean of the Novoulyanovsk district, Priest Nikolai Gensitsky, the rector of the church, Priest Nikolai Suslov, the head of the protocol service of the Simbirsk diocesan administration, Priest Valery Stavrovsky, Deacon Ioann Kosyakov, and Deacon Grigory Shevchenko. At the end of the Liturgy, the glorification of the Mother of God was performed. During the service the Bishop's male choir of the Simbirsk Metropolis sang under the direction of the regent, Priest Andrei Chizhov.

The Church of St. George the Victorious in the village of Poldomasovo is one of the oldest on Simbirsk land. Ruined and abandoned in the 20th century, it is now preserved and religious services are periodically held there.

— Worship is the life of the temple. When we serve in destroyed temples, we thereby resist this destruction, prolong the life of the temple, draw people's attention to it, and comfort God. Because these temples are the memory of our pious ancestors, those people who once built them, prayed...

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

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David HallGood to see Metropolitan Longin serving there with Fr. Nikolai Suslov and the others. That old George the Victorious church has been through a lot since the last century. Nice that the archierarchal choir sang too — keeps the place alive like he said.

Василий ОрловIt’s good that Metropolitan Longin said directly: worship is the life of the church. In Poldomasovo, Georgievsky is a very old building, dating back to the 19th century, but it was destroyed during Soviet times. It’s nice that the bishop’s choir came and sang the glorification of Tikhvin - it means they haven’t forgotten the place.

Іван СавченкоThe church in Poldomasovo is really old, dating back to the 19th century, and it is good that Metropolitan Longin directly said that worship is the life of the church. When you serve in such a preserved place, you really seem to be resisting destruction. Our bishop's choir is also well done to those who came, without singing it would be completely empty.

Светлана КузнецоваI agree, Vasily, the Metropolitan’s words are very accurate. In Yekaterinburg, we also have such old churches, dilapidated, and when you come and see that the Liturgy is celebrated there at least once a year, your soul immediately feels lighter. And the bishop’s choir is actually a gift for such a place, right?

Максим ШевченкоYes, worship is truly the life of the temple, as Metropolitan Longinus said. We also have old churches in the Lviv region that were preserved after Soviet times, and when they serve once a year, people immediately flock to them. It is good that the bishop's choir came and sang the praise of Tikhvinska, without singing it is somehow empty.

Ирина КомароваYes, the words of Metropolitan Longin about the fact that worship is the life of the church are very true. In the Samara region, we also have such old churches from Soviet times, and when they serve at least once a year, you can immediately see how people begin to come and help. It’s good that the bishop’s choir came and sang the glorification of Tikhvin, without singing there it would have been completely empty.

Владимир МакаровSvetlana, they definitely noticed about the choir - when such voices sound in a dilapidated church, it’s a completely different matter. Here in Tula, too, a couple of old churches are also kept afloat by rare services. In your Yekaterinburg, do you often manage to get out there for the Liturgy?

Bogdan BarbuIt's good that Metropolitan Longinus clearly said that the service is the life of the church. Here in Timișoara, we saw how an old chapel, almost torn down, came to life again after they started holding Liturgy once a month. And that bishop's choir must have sounded beautiful in Poldomasovo, especially in praise of the Tikhvin Icon.

Вера ВасильеваYes, the choir within such walls sounds especially piercing, as if the temple itself were coming to life. Here in Novosibirsk, too, a couple of old churches are kept alive with rare services, like in Tula. Have you been to Poldomasovo or do you only know it from stories?

Олег ВасильевYes, in such old walls the singing is truly special, like an echo from the ancestors. In Novosibirsk, I just know that church on Zaeltsovka, where they sometimes serve - a similar story. And I haven’t been to Poldomasovo myself, I only know it from photos and stories, but the idea of rare services is correct, the temple does not allow you to completely die.