TASS Hosts Press Conference on the 80th Anniversary of the Appearance of Christ in Elista

On 31 August, the TASS press centre in Moscow hosted a press conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour in Elista and the premiere of The Elista Miracle, a documentary produced by the Spas television channel.

The speakers included Head of the Republic of Kalmykia Batu Khasikov; Archbishop Justinian of Elista and Kalmykia; Vladimir Legoyda, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media; Spas Director General Boris Korchevnikov; and the film’s director, Roman Gangan.

They discussed the historical and spiritual significance of the 1946 event, which became a symbol of faith and hope for the people of post-war Kalmykia. The speakers also highlighted the unity of Russia’s peoples and the long-standing peaceful coexistence of religious traditions in the republic.

The anniversary programme presented at the conference includes a Divine Liturgy and a procession. Around 700 applications to join the procession have already been received from across Russia. The premiere of The Elista Miracle on 9 September will be one of the programme’s central events.

A trailer for the documentary was screened during the conference. According to its creators, the film introduces viewers to the history of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour, the culture and traditions of Kalmykia, and the friendship and unity of people of different ethnic backgrounds.

During the meeting, Archbishop Justinian invited Boris Korchevnikov to take part in a Moscow procession carrying the Elista icon of the Appearance of Christ the Saviour. The head of the Spas television channel accepted the invitation.

Sources: the press release provided for publication; NTK announcement; TASS Press Centre.