Novosibirsk, Russia, August 17, 2022
Photo: foma.ru
The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called missionary boat-church first set off down the Ob River in the summer of 1996, at the initiative of Fr. Alexander Novopashin of the Cathedral of St. Alexander of Nevsky in Novosibirsk.
Since then, priests, doctors of various specialties, and social workers have sailed down the river every summer, visiting remote and sparsely populated settlements, providing local residents with spiritual, medical, and social assistance.
More than 100,000 people have received comprehensive assistance, reports the Novosibirsk Metropolis.
The ship set off on its 25th voyage on Monday, August 15. This time the missionaries will visit the lower reaches of the Ob.
The voyage began with a moleben served by His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodim of Novosibirsk, who addressed the participants with a parting word:
We perform these works together—clergy, doctors, and social services—we strive to help the common man. Both the church and the hospital come to people living in remote villages , bringing spiritual and physical help. It’s very important that people, no matter what remote places they live in, feel that they’re being taken care of, that they’re being helped and remembered.
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