Preparations for the 80th Anniversary of the Appearance of Christ Discussed in Stavropol

On 26 August, Stavropol Theological Seminary hosted a meeting on preparations for the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour in Elista.

Kalmykia was represented by Archpriest Alexei Grishchenko and Valery Batyrov, Academic Secretary of the National Museum of the Republic of Kalmykia. Representatives of the Stavropol Diocese, faculty members, and seminary students also took part.

The participants learned about eyewitness Semyon Bondarenko, the history of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the forthcoming anniversary events. Particular attention was given to an exhibition at the National Museum of Kalmykia on mobile ulus churches, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the Orthodox mission in the region.

The icon, painted by a Stavropol artist from Semyon Bondarenko’s account, was carried by him from Stavropol to Elista. Bondarenko himself was born and raised in the village of Voznesenovskoye in Stavropol Krai.

The meeting continued the joint work of the two dioceses and the museum to preserve historical memory and prepare for the anniversary.

Source: Diocese of Elista and Kalmykia.