On November 8, 2024 in the village of Nizhny Olshanets, Belgorod district, Belgorod region, the consecration of the church of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Solunsk, located at a distance of less than 20 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, took place. The consecration rite was performed by Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Starooskolsk and Bishop Sophrony of Gubkinsky and Graivoron.
The church was consecrated by Metropolitan John and Bishop Sophrony of Gubkinsky and Graivoron.
The church in the village of Nizhny Olshanets was built in the early XX century. At that time the parish had about 500 parishioners, there was a zemstvo school. In the 1930s the church was destroyed. Almost a century later, a new church was erected on the former site. During the construction they found fragments of the old masonry and part of the ancient bell, which will now be kept as a relic.
The villagers appealed to Metropolitan John with a request to build a temple, they collected funds for the construction of the foundation. At the solemn event in honor of the consecration of the temple, the chairman of the board of directors of the group of companies «Agro-Belogorie», head of the Board of Trustees Vladimir Zotov told how once he saw a woman praying at this place and learned from her that the village needs a new temple. With the help of agricultural holding the temple was built in just one year.
There is now a white stone church in the center of the village. The building with domes in Byzantine style. For the interior decoration, craftsmen from Kislovodsk made the marble altar, iconostasis and floors.
All those who took part in the construction and beautification of the church, in its consecration and in the first Divine Liturgy were congratulated by Vladyka John. «Pray especially for the health of all, for those who are in weakness, because the sky is opened today over the temple in a special way, because another house of God has been opened today, and the Holy Spirit has entered it and filled these walls with the love and wisdom of God» — said the Metropolitan before the Liturgy began.
The celebration was attended by the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov. A miracle is actually happening here today: in several dozen kilometers from where we are standing, there are battles going on, our soldiers are fighting for our country, and in our border, frontline region the territories are being improved, churches are being built. Those who do not live here will not be able to understand how important this is. From my point of view, this is the only way out for us, because if we do not do this, then there is no point in everything that is happening on the front. This is our future, we re doing this for our children, for people to be confident in the future» — said Vyacheslav Vladimirovich.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy was The act of handing over the building to the Russian Orthodox Church was signed.
«When the city of Thessaloniki in Greece, where the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki lived in the III century, surrounded by enemies, he appeared on the city wall and all the enemies fled in fear. It was a miracle, and after that his relics began to thaw. Today the Great Martyr Demetrius of Solunsk becomes our protector in this difficult time, — said Metropolitan John. — When we were building this temple, I was in Kislovodsk before that. And here, at the consecration, the rector of the Church of St. Nicholas of Kislovodsk Archpriest John Znamensky is present. It was he who introduced me to a man who works with stone in an amazing way, and he came here with his craftsmen. And it was also the Providence of God. Such a temple does not exist any more in the holy Belogorie — the unique marble altar, which we consecrated today, is the only one of its kind. And this place, I am sure, will now become the center of spiritual attraction for all the villagers.
Metropolitan John conveyed the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the parishioners.
Decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in consideration of hard work for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church, support of social, enlightenment, educational and social projects Belgorod Metropolitan Church, as well as in attention to the work on the construction of the temple in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Solunsk, the Order of Prince Daniel of Moscow of the II degree was awarded to V.F. Zotov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group of Companies «Agro-Belogorie». The Order of St. Euphrosyne, Grand Duchess of Moscow, III degree was awarded to L.V. Kovaleva, General Director of the group of companies «Agro-Belogorie».
In attention to the work on the construction of the temple of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Solunsky Patriarchal sign temple builder were awarded the director of LLC «Sena» E.P. Semenishin and General Director of LLC «Stroyproekt» P.V. Muzenitov. In attention to the labor and assistance in the construction of the temple to the trustees, builders and active parishioners, Vladyka John also presented church awards and commendations.
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Press service of the Belgorod Diocese/Patriarchy.ru
