On April 10, 2024, Metropolitan Peter of Orenburg and Saraktash celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Trinity Church of the Iveron Convent in Orsk. His Eminence was served by Archpriest Sergius Baranov, Secretary of the Orsk Diocese, Priest Vadim Tatus, Secretary of the Orenburg Diocese, and the clergy of the Orsk Diocese.
Metropolitan Peter arrived in Orsk the day before with a humanitarian cargo, which will be transferred to the temporary accommodation centers of those affected by flooding, reports Patriarchy.ru.
At the end of the Liturgy, the bishop addressed the clergy, sisters of the monastery and parishioners with a sermon, in which he expressed his confidence that the Lord's trials will eventually help people to rethink their lives, to get closer to each other, to bond and to increase love for each other.
At the end of the service, Vladyka Peter went to the Old City, where the water had caused particularly significant damage.
Metropolitan Peter, together with Archpriest Sergius Baranov and Priest Vadim Tatus, traveled by motorboat to the Church of the Transfiguration, located on the mountain. This temple was surrounded on all sides by water and became a refuge for dozens of people. They are housed in the temple's Sunday school building, supporting each other, cooking together in the temple courtyard on a fire. In the territory around the temple there are also managed to park several dozen cars rescued from the water.
Several priests remained at the Church of the Transfiguration, continuing to perform statutory services.
While Metropolitan Peter examined the Transfiguration Church, his companions visited the Church of the Intercession, flooded by one and a half meters. The clergymen, with the help of a team from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, were able to rescue several valuable icons and ancient books from the water.
Upon his return to Orenburg the same day, Metropolitan Peter spoke about his visit to Orsk on the "Spas" TV channel.
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