Participants of the Ladder youth movement, led by Priest Pavel Solomatin, visited Pereslavl-Zalessky on July 18, 2026. The program of the trip included a walk around the city, participation in the episcopal divine service, as well as a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Russia.
After the evening service, Vladyka Theoktist talked with the young people, told them about himself and answered their questions. The main topic of the conversation was a discussion of worldly asceticism in the light of the Holy Scriptures.
The Ladder youth movement has been operating at the Church of All Saints on Sokol in Moscow since 2015. Its founder and confessor is the cleric of this temple, Priest Pavel Solomatin. The name of the movement is associated with the spiritual work of St. John of the Ladder and reflects the main idea of the association — the spiritual growth of youth in Christ.
Over the years, the Ladder has grown from a small group of several people into a community of several hundred young people. The movement's members study the Holy Scriptures together, make pilgrimages, and organize creative and social projects. In 2025, the movement celebrated its tenth anniversary.