Estepona, Spain, September 13, 2018
Photo: Pravoslavie.ru The Orthodox faithful in Estepona, Spain will soon have a place to offer their prayers and sacrifice to God.
His Grace Bishop Nestor of Korsun went on an archpastoral visit to southern Spain, to the Costa Del Sol region from September 7 to 10, where he presided over the official opening of construction at the future site of the Ascension Church in the resort town of Estepona, reports the site of Korsun Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Photo: Pravoslavie.ru Bp. Nestor celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ascension Cathedral in Marbella on Sunday, followed by the opening of the site of the new Ascension Church the next day.
Photo: Pravoslavie.ru Vladyka celebrated a moleben for the beginning of construction and blessed the cross erected on the site. Following the moleben, Bp. Nestor offered warm words of gratitude to Estepona mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, who has offered full support to the Orthodox parish, allocating an extensive plot of land of 63,000 sq. ft., with a 75-year lease, free of charge.
Construction costs have been taken over by the Orthodox Initiative foundation. The architectural work is being handled by Tobal Arquitectos, and the construction work by the company Jamena.
Photo: Pravoslavie.ru Bp. Nestor called for God’s blessing for all the laborers and their work, that the project might be completed by the end of 2019.
The Russian hierarch has overseen the creation and opening of many parishes and churches in Europe over the past few years. He consecrated two temporary worship spaces in Spain in April 2016. Two communities in Portugal were given worship spaces in January and February of this year. A Swiss community of the Russian Church was given use of a 6th century monastery in early March, and a seaside church in Spain was consecrated in late March.
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