On September 23 and 24, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated a new church dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in the city of Sochi, on the federal territory “Sirius”. On the occasion of the consecration, clergy from nearby and distant parishes arrived in Sochi: the Metropolitan was concelebrated by the rector of the church Priest Artemiy Yefimov, Archpriest Georgiy Yefimov (Primorsko-Akhtarsk), Archpriest Grigoriy Yefimov (Novopokrovsky farm), Archpriest Alexey Mikheev (Moscow), Priest Rodion Chumakov (Vereschagino ), Priest Gleb Bobkov (Novonekrasovsky farm), Priest Mikhail Rodin (Balakovo), Priest Nikola Korobeynikov (Tomsk), Priest Andrey Shamov (Kizlyar, Dagestan), Priest Maxim Andreev (Shuvoe), Protodeacon Mikhail Abakunchik (khutor Novopokrovsky), Protodeacon Andrey Morzhakov (Ustyanovo village), Protodeacon Viktor Savelyev (Moscow), Deacon Boris Teplykh (Moscow), Deacon Alexandr Konstantinov (Novonekrasovsky farm), Deacon Nikita Maltsev (Vereschagino), Deacon Maxim Dumnov (Vladimir), subdeacon Georgiy Bosov (Pokrovka).
The white stone church in the Byzantine style was designed by the Old Believer architect Pyotr Dolnakov. The location for construction was not chosen by chance. At the beginning of the last century there was also a church there. Moreover, when archaeological research was done before the construction of Olympic facilities in 2012, the ruins of a Byzantine temple from the 8th century were found a kilometre from this place. In its altar part the remains of ten bodies and fragments of the iconostasis were found. The findings confirmed the fact that even before the Baptism of Russia, Christians were already praying in these places.
Peter Dolnakov shared his idea behind the architectural design of the new church:
— The temple consecrated today repeats the architectural design of the Byzantine temple; in the upcoming design of the kokoshniks, the ornament of a Byzantine temple will be used. You will be telling your children that Christians already prayed here a thousand years ago, and you took up the torch. Today your tradition has merged with the tradition of Byzantine times.
Most of the parishioners of the Sochi church are descendants of Nekrasov Cossacks who returned to Russia from Turkey. They preserve special traditions in clothing and singing. At the consecration service, colourful Nekrasov singing sounded on the left choir. On the right, a male choir sang solemnly under the direction of readers Vladimir Chunin (St. Petersburg) and Vasiliy Gladyshev (Rzhev).
Metropolitan Korniliy also noted the importance of preserving tradition:
— I heard beautiful folk singing and saw traditional clothes. It is gratifying that the Old Believers preserve their traditions; this is very valuable. It is important for an Old Believer not to miss a service; now there is the opportunity to pray in the church here in the south, this is a very joyful event. Another joyful event is that after a long journey to the reunion, it finally took place. Previously, this community doubted the legitimacy of the Belaya Krinitsa hierarchy. When the Old Believers received the opportunity to speak openly, Melnikov began to write a lot in defence of Metropolitan Ambrose and published the book “An End to Doubts about the Legitimacy of the Old Believer Hierarchy.” The search for truth ended today with our common prayer, the consecration of the church, and now the most important thing is being celebrated here – the Divine liturgy.
The rector of the church, Priest Artemiy Yefimov, on behalf of the parish, thanked the Metropolitan and all the guests for coming:
— Today is a blessed day, a bright holiday. A hundred years have passed since the temple was founded here, then it was burned, and today, through the labours and prayers of Metropolitan Korniliy and the honourable fathers, the church dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God was consecrated. Brothers and sisters, since we have started on the path of salvation, let us continue to strengthen the church with our prayers.
