His Grace, Bishop CASSIAN is currently in Moscow to participate in the 13th Annual “Christmas Readings” Conference co-sponsored by the Department of Education of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. During some free time in between sessions of the conference, His Grace, Bishop CASSIAN made the effort to visit St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church, as he maintains ties with two hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in America: His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate and His Grace, Bishop IRINEU of Dearborn Heights, and therefore wanted to visit the OCA Representation while in Moscow. His Grace, Bishop LONGIN is a long-time friend of St. Catherine Church who prior to his consecration to the Episcopate, while still Abbot of the Representation of the Holy-Trinity St. Sergius Lavra in Moscow, frequently visited the parish.
During the course of the visit, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Dean of the church, was able to share information about parish life as well as to offer a tour of the newly renovated temple. Following the tour, a luncheon was held in honor of the hierarchs’ visit.