The ship-church of the Novosibirsk diocese "St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called" went on a regular missionary voyage

The ship-church of the Novosibirsk diocese "St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called" went on a regular missionary voyage Корабль-церковь Новосибирской епархии «Святой апостол Андрей Первозванный» отправился в очередной миссионерский рейс print version August 15, 2019 14:41 On August 15, 2019, the ship-church "St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called" set off for the 23rd voyage from Novosibirsk. Traditionally, clergy, social workers, and doctors gathered on board. The missionary action is carried out by the Novosibirsk diocese and the government of the Novosibirsk region. Every year, the ship-church goes along the Ob to remote settlements of the Novosibirsk Region, to which there are no access roads by train or car. To conduct the missionaries arrived their relatives, friends, colleagues. Mission employees and mourners were warmly welcomed by Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Berdsky Nicodemus and Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region S. A. Dislike. Before departure, Metropolitan Nicodemus performed a moleben for travelers on the pier of the River Station. “We are sending on a regular trip a missionary ship, which is called not only to carry the Word of God, but also to do mercy - to provide the population with medical care and social support. God is Love, says the Apostle John the Theologian. And these works are a symbol of our love, ”the lord said. The bishop reminded that in the region there are still many settlements where there is no church, people have not seen an Orthodox priest for years, and this mission allows them to take part in worship, as a church is organized on board the ship, to confess, partake of the communion, and ask the priest to pray for their health , about the repose of relatives, to consecrate the house, house buildings. “People want the Lord to bless their place of residence,” the Bishop emphasized, noting also that spiritual help is much more important than medical or social. Speaking about the cooperation of the diocese and the regional government, the ruling bishop noted that “together we can accomplish many good deeds, bringing joy to the inhabitants of the region”. In turn, Deputy Governor S.A. Nelyubov said that over the 23 years during which this spiritual, enlightening and charity mission has been carried out in the Novosibirsk Region, missionaries have provided spiritual, medical and social assistance to more than 100 thousand people. Last year alone, 7,000 residents of the region received support, 500 people were baptized. This time the missionaries will visit 45 settlements, and they are already eagerly awaited on the ground. S.A. Nelyubov said that medical and social assistance, of course, are important, "but the most important thing is spiritual and educational work." The deputy governor called the mission a “unique action” because it combines the efforts of the Novosibirsk diocese, the government of the Novosibirsk region, and local self-government bodies and is aimed at social stabilization in the region. This year a group of missionary doctors was headed by a doctor of medical sciences, professor O.G. Gusarevich. She said that qualified doctors of various specialties are participating in the mission. Many local residents living in settlements remote from the district center do not have the opportunity to be examined by specialists who would prescribe competent treatment. This is fraught with complications of diseases, the transition of the disease to a more severe stage, which will be more difficult for doctors to cope with. A timely visit to a doctor avoids many serious health problems. So, last year , mission doctors suspected cancer in several patients. As a result of a more detailed examination in Novosibirsk, the diagnosis was confirmed. But since the pathology was discovered at an early stage of development, the prognosis became positive, OG concluded. Gusarevich.