Padua, Italy, December 26, 2024
Photo: cerkov-ru.com
Expanding the Orthodox presence in northern Italy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated the foundation stone for a new church in Padua on Sunday.
The consecration followed the Divine Liturgy at the existing Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Met. Nestor was concelebrated by the rector Archpriest Vasily Shestovsky and a host of clergy from Italy, Moldova, and Russia, reports the Diocese of Korsun.
Photo: cerkov-ru.com
The day’s events were memorable for the local parish, as they included the ordination of David Shestovsky to the diaconate.
The occasion also coincided with the 30th anniversary of Fr. Vasily’s priestly service. The Metropolitan gifted the parish with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Korsun.
The consecration of the foundation stone represents a new chapter for Orthodox Christianity in Padua, a city already rich in religious history and architectural heritage. The ceremony was attended by local clergy and parishioners who processed together to the construction site following the Divine Liturgy.
The Russian Orthodox Church currently has 64 parishes and communities in Italy.
Met. Nestor has consecrated several churches throughout Western Europe in recent months, including in Switzerland in June, in France in September, and in Portugal in November.
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