Ministry Matters

If you are interested in Christianity in Russia and would enjoy visiting the beautiful northern city of St Petersburg, why not consider participating in the Diocese of London’s annual visit to the Church in St Petersburg next spring? During our visit we make a point of sharing in the liturgy of the Orthodox Church and visit parishes and Church pastoral care projects in and around St Petersburg. And there is always time to explore the former tsarist capital of Russia and sample the outstanding cultural life of the city.

When do we go?

We are hoping to be in Russia from 28 April till 5 May 2010.

Where will we stay?

Our group usually stays at the Orthodox Seminary in the territory of the St Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The location is wonderful, at the southern end of Nevsky Prospect and alongside the beautiful, historic cemetery where Dostoevsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky are buried.

Staying in the seminary is a very Russian and a very Orthodox experience. The rooms are good, though perhaps not of a smart western hotel standard. You should expect to share a room with another member of the group. The seminary provides all our meals too and you’ll sample delicious Russian food and probably some vodka to help digestion.

What will we see?

As well as seminary life, we will see some amazing social projects in St Petersburg run by Orthodox Christians. During the Communist years it was illegal for the Church to engage in organised pastoral work and it is wonderful to see the Church recovering her mission to care for the poor and needy. In a country where social service provision is extremely patchy there is much work to do. The kind of projects we will visit might include an Orthodox children’s hospital chaplaincy, a teenage young offenders’ rehab project or a medical care project for people who are old and ill and have no other carers. It is our hope that members of the Diocesan Group will develop ongoing relationships with some of these outstanding projects and assist them with their prayers and, hopefully, practical and financial help in the future.

We will also visit Orthodox Parish Churches to meet the clergy and faithful and to learn more about Orthodox spirituality.

Will there be time to explore St Petersburg?

The Diocesan visit is a great chance to get to know this beautiful city. First-time visitors will certainly want to see something of the Hermitage, the world class art collection housed in the Winter Palace on the banks of the Neva. We usually include an optional visit to the ballet or opera at the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre or one of the other great theatres in the city. The city is built on many rivers and canals and a boat trip is a great way to see St Petersburg, assuming that spring has come and the waters are not still frozen!

How much will it cost?

We reckon the trip will cost something in the region of £900. This will include flights and visa costs, accommodation and full board, as well as the use of the seminary mini-bus throughout the week. You will also need some pocket money for souvenirs and a night at the theatre is likely to cost approximately £30. Also, it is always good to buy little gifts from the UK to give to new friends in Russia. Clergy seeking financial assistance towards the cost of the visit should contact the Archdeacon of Hackney’s office about possible sources of help.

Who can come?

The trip is open to the laity, religious and clergy of the Diocese of London.

There is quite an amount of walking and some travelling by metro and public transport. You will need to be in reasonable physical health. Provision for those with disabilities is very poor in Russia. It is also worth saying that visiting Russia can often be a challenging experience as the customer service culture is not as highly developed as in the west and there is also much poverty. To cope with this, members of the group should be in good psychological health.

It is hoped that participants in the Diocesan Group will want to make friends in Russia and develop ongoing relationships between their parish or place of ministry and colleagues in St Petersburg. We ask that lay people who are interested in joining the group provide us with a letter of support from their parish priest.

The maximum number of participants in the group is 12. Preference will be given to people who have not been to St Petersburg before. We are particularly keen to involve younger members of the Diocese.

A trip to Russia always includes the possibility that plans and details might change and we hope members of the group will set out with the appropriate spirit of adventure!

Who leads the group?

The trip is planned and led by a small organising group comprising The Ven Dr Lyle Dennen, Archdeacon of Hackney; Father Tim Pike, Bishop of London’s Chaplain for Russian Orthodox Relations; and Ms Jenny Harding, all of whom are experienced visitors to Russia.

I’d like to come. How do I book?

We hope you will be interested in joining our trip in spring 2010. For a booking form, please email Jenny Harding at jenny.harding (Email: jenny.harding [at] london.anglican.org) or telephone her on 020 7353 3544.