On September 17, His Eminence Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated a church in the name of venerable Zosima and Savatiy, miracle workers of Solovki, in Petrozavodsk. The long-awaited event in the capital of Karelia was attended by Archpriests Gennadiy Chunin (St. Petersburg) and Sergiy Lisurenko (Moscow), Priests Igor Karvanen (St. Petersburg) and Evgeniy Kruglov (Kovrov), Protodeacon Viktor Savelyev (Moscow), Deacon Davyd Toran (St. Petersburg), and Deacon Leonid Lisurenko (Moscow).
The chairman of the Petrozavodsk community Olga Malkina had lived for many years with the idea and great desire to build a church of God in the capital of Karelia, in labours and efforts. She became the main inspirer and organizer of the construction. Other concerned people also joined. Christians from the Intercession community of the St. Petersburg helped with the construction project. The city administration, as well as Christians from the parishes of the Northern capital, warmly supported the construction. Metropolitan Korniliy addressed the Christians:
— This is a miracle that the Lord performed with the hands of people; It is God’s great mercy that such a church appeared on northern Karelian land. It is small in size, but it is the island to which people will come to escape from everyday grief, worries and vanity. This is a place of God’s grace. I think that the parish will multiply.
On behalf of the head of the Republic, the Minister of National and Regional Policy Sergey Kiselyov congratulated the parishioners:
— The Republic of Karelia is a multinational and multi-religious republic; representatives of many peoples and religions live here in peace and harmony. Undoubtedly, this temple will also contribute to this. The history of the republic is connected with the history of Old Believers. It is gratifying that you are preserving this memory, culture and traditions,” the minister said.
As part of his visit to Karelia, the Metropolitan also visited the birthplace of St. Zosima of Solovki in the village Zagubye and the Medvezhyegorsk Museum. He also visited Raisa Zagorodnyaya, the mother of the trustee of the Petrozavodsk church Vasily Zagorodniy. Servant of God Raisa celebrated her 89th day of the angel on September 18.
