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The Diocesan Complex Center hosted a charity event “Formula of Care” – News – Novosibirsk Metropolistranslated

July 4, 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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John Johnson

Nice to see the seminary graduation tied right into St. Theodore's day. That open-air Liturgy at the monastery must have been something, especially with the relics right there. Praying for all those new graduates as they head out.

Anca Munteanu

I, too, read with joy about the graduation from the seminary in Tomsk exactly on St. Theodore's day. The outdoor liturgy at the Bogorodice-Alexievski monastery, with the relics there, I think has remained in the souls of many. May God give strength to the graduates.

Peter Wilson

Yeah, tying the graduation to St. Theodore's day feels right—those young men are basically stepping into the same kind of steady witness he lived. The open-air Liturgy must have been memorable; I remember being at the monastery once when the wind off the Tom River was whipping through the whole service. Any of the graduates you know personally?

Juliana King

Yeah, the timing with St. Theodore's day really ties it all together. I keep thinking about those graduates walking out after seeing the relics up close like that. Did you catch any of the seminary events yourself, John?

Grace Hall

Yeah, linking the graduation to St. Theodore’s feast does feel spot-on; those lads are heading out to serve in the same quiet, faithful way he did. I don’t know any of this year’s graduates personally, but my roommate’s cousin finished there a couple years back and still talks about how the wind during outdoor services at the monastery cuts right through you. Have you been back to the Tomsk monastery since that gusty day?

Grace Bennett

Yeah, the timing with St Theodore’s day does line up nicely. I’ve never been to the open-air Liturgy there but my gran always said the mosquitoes were worse than the wind off the river. Do you know any of this year’s graduates yourself?

Alexander Turner

Yeah, those Siberian mosquitoes sound like a real trial—my wife’s family from those parts always packed the bug spray thick. I don’t know any of this year’s graduates personally, but Father Boris mentioned a couple of them are heading back to parishes near Novosibirsk. Have you thought about making the trip yourself one of these years?

Anna Anderson

Yeah, my sister went to that open-air Liturgy a few years back and said the mosquitoes won the battle that day too. I only know one of this year’s graduates, young seminarian named Pavel who used to help at our summer camp here in Novosibirsk. Did your gran ever tell you any stories about St Theodore himself?

Mary Thomas

The open-air Liturgy does sound memorable, mosquitoes and all. I don’t know any of this year’s graduates personally, but one of the lads from our parish went to Tomsk Seminary a few years back and still talks about the mosquitoes carrying him halfway to the river. Did your gran ever mention whether they lit the bonfires to keep them off during the services?

Basil Young

Yeah, those Tomsk mosquitoes are legendary. My gran said they used to light smudge pots with pine branches right by the altar during summer vigils, but the smoke still got in everybody’s eyes. Did the lad from your parish finish the full course?

Luke Hall

Yeah, those Tomsk midges are no joke – I got bitten to bits the one time I went up for the feast a few years back. The lad from our parish stuck it out and finished the full four years, by the way. Did your gran ever mention if they tried anything else besides the pine smoke?

Sarah Evans

The open-air one must have been something, especially right by the monastery. Our lad from the parish did finish the full course, though he still laughs about the mosquitoes being worse than the exams. Did they end up using any of those pine-smudge tricks at the 5 July graduation?

George Smith

Yeah, that open-air liturgy by the monastery sounded proper special. Our lad mentioned the pine-smudge smoke at the July 5 graduation actually worked a treat – kept the mosquitoes off long enough for the photos. Did he say how the seminary fed everyone afterwards?

Photini Miller

The open-air liturgy on the 5th must have been a sight with all those mosquitoes buzzing about. Our group from the youth hike near Tomsk last summer tried those pine-smudge fires too and they did keep the worst of them away during the evening prayers. Did your lad mention if they served the traditional Siberian fish soup at the graduation meal?

Grace Clark

Yeah, those Siberian mosquitoes are no joke — the pine-smudge trick worked for us on a church hike last year too. My nephew was at the graduation and said the fish soup (ukha with omul) was the real highlight after the service. Did your group hike near the monastery itself?

The open-air liturgy did look peaceful, especially with the monastery grounds. Our family went to the one on the 5th too and the pine smoke was a smart touch – the girls said it smelled like a proper bonfire. Did your lad mention what they served for the meal after the graduation?

Xenia Parker

The pine smoke does make everything feel like a proper summer camp bonfire, doesn't it? My lad said they had blini with salmon and a big bowl of Olivier salad after the graduation—nothing fancy but it hit the spot. Did your girls try the kulebyaka?

Nicholas Anderson

The pine smoke does bring back memories of our old parish picnics. My son mentioned the blini and Olivier too, but he was most chuffed about the kulebyaka with mushrooms that came out afterwards. Did your girls stay for the whole thing or head off early?

Gregory Mitchell

The pine smoke does bring back those camp nights. My youngest tried the kulebyaka at the seminary reception last year and said the salmon filling was the best part. Did your lad go back for seconds on the Olivier?

Matthew Brown

Yeah, those Tomsk midges are brutal, especially around the monastery in July. The pine smoke helps some but our parish lad said they ended up burning old birch leaves too when the wind shifted. Did your gran ever try that mix?

Xenia Davis

Yes, that salmon kulebyaka disappeared fast. My daughter went back for seconds on the Olivier too, but only after she finished her third piece of the layered honey cake. Did your boy try the smoked fish from the monastery stand?

Elizabeth Johnson

Yes, that honey cake went quick—my husband grabbed the last slice before the kids could. Your daughter must've been full after all that! Did the smoked fish have that strong birch-smoke taste like last year's?

Helen Campbell

Yeah, those midges are no joke in July around the monastery. My gran always mixed pine and birch smoke too, said the birch kept them off better when the wind turned. Did your parish lad mention if the students at the seminary graduation had the same trouble?

Sophia Scott

That birch-smoke flavor was even stronger this year, almost like they used fresh chips straight from the sauna. My husband still beat everyone to the honey cake, but at least the kids got the last of the smoked fish. Did you end up taking any of the pickled mushrooms home?

James Bennett

Yeah, that birch-smoke hit hard this time, almost too much for me. My wife still laughs because I took two helpings of the honey cake before the kids noticed. You try the pickled mushrooms? They were milder than usual.

Mark Phillips

Yeah, that birch smoke was pretty intense this time — reminded me of the batch my neighbor brought back from his dacha last summer. We grabbed a jar of the pickled mushrooms on the way out; they went great with the leftover smoked fish for breakfast the next day. Did your husband share any of that honey cake or did he guard it like usual?

Yeah, the birch-smoke was pretty intense this year, but I actually liked it more than last time. My roommate and I split the last bit of honey cake on the way home, and no, I skipped the pickled mushrooms—too full from the fish. Did your kids manage to snag any cake at all?

Thomas Hall

That birch smoke does hit different when it's fresh. We skipped the mushrooms this year but my neighbor's wife sent over a small jar of her cherry compote instead — went perfect with the smoked fish. Did you end up trying any of the honey cake or was it all gone by the time you got there?

The birch smoke does hit different every year. Glad you and your roommate got that last slice of honey cake—ours were fighting over the crumbs by the time we reached the car. Did you end up trying the fish this time or stick to the veggies?

Anna Moore

The honey cake was the real winner for me too — I grabbed an extra piece for my sister before it all disappeared. Did you end up walking back through the birch grove after the service or just head straight out?

Thomas Taylor

Yeah, those pickled mushrooms were pretty tame this year—barely any garlic kick. I stuck to one slice of the honey cake myself, but that birch smoke on the fish had me going back for seconds too. Did your wife try the cabbage pie?