Archbishop Theophylact traveled to parishes in Turkmenistan
Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, visited half out of twelve parishes in Turkmenistan on May 10-14. The archbishop performed the updates rank and Divine Liturgy at the Petropavlovsk Church in the city of Turkmenabat and evening service at the Church of Saints Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, in the city of Bayramali. Then he visited the Intercession Church in the city of Mary, headed the All-Night Vigil at the Church of the Apostle Thomas in the city of Tedjen, and prayed with the Orthodox believers in the parishes of the capital of Turkmenistan. Archbishop Theophylact performed the liturgy in the Saints Nicholas Church, and evening service - at the Alexander Nevsky Church in the city of Ashgabat. The archpastor discussed with the congregation the forthcoming celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the formation of the Patriarchal Deanery. Among the festive events is a concert during which the church motet to be performed in Turkmen language. Some of songs will be presented for the first time. Theophylact has considered the concert program at the meeting with the choir of the St. Nicholas Church in Ashgabat. Visiting the communities, Archbishop Theophylact examined the parish libraries. The results of the work of Sunday schools were summed up, as well as plans for the next school year were outlined. The bishop met with the entrants preparing to enter theological schools, and blessed them for entrance examinations. Archbishop Theophylact conveyed the blessing and warm wishes of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the parishioners of Turkmenistan. In addition, at the end of the trip, as the website of the Moscow Patriarchate informed, he met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Turkmenistan A.Blohin and the Ambassador of the Belarus in Turkmenistan O.Tabanyuhov.
