With the blessing of Metropolitan Nicodemus of Novosibirsk and Berdsk, on August 10, 2025, the church ship St. Andrew the First-Called set off on another voyage.
This year, the missionaries will travel up the Ob River and visit a number of settlements in Iskitimsky, Ordynsky, Suzunsky and Novosibirsk districts of the Novosibirsk region. The promotion will run from August 10 to August 26.
As part of the spiritual, educational and charitable mission organized by the Novosibirsk Metropolitan with the support of regional authorities, clergymen, doctors of various specialties, and social workers work in hard-to-reach settlements and provide spiritual, medical, and social assistance to local residents.
The participants of the rally were accompanied by Metropolitan Nikodim and representatives of the Government of the Novosibirsk Region — Minister of Regional Policy R.V. Burdin, Minister of Health R.M. Zablotsky, Minister of Labor and Social Development E.V. Bakhareva. Before the departure of the church ship, Bishop Nicodemus, accompanied by the clergy of the diocese, held a prayer service for the travelers at the pier and blessed the missionaries on their way.
Vladyka Nicodemus noted the importance of the annual spiritual, educational and social charity event, as well as the importance of cooperation between the Novosibirsk Diocese, the Government of the Novosibirsk region and the public in helping the residents of the region: "Now begins our missionary march along the waters of the Ob River on the ship "St. Andrew the First-Called" in order to preach the word of Christ to people living in remote areas. settlements. A church ship is coming, and people with the necessary knowledge are coming to provide medical and social assistance, organize a cultural program, and do everything to make people feel that the Church, society, and the province are taking care of them. I thank all those who took an active part in organizing this missionary trip."
Roman Burdin, Minister of Regional Policy, on behalf of the Governor of the region, thanked Metropolitan Nikodim of Novosibirsk and Berdsk and all the participants of the action for implementing this important social initiative. "The ship-church is a vivid example of a union for the benefit of people, a union of the state and the Russian Orthodox Church. We wish the ship to work productively and trouble—free," Roman Valerievich noted.
The first charity voyage of the St. Andrew the First-Called church ship took place in 1996. Over the years, 150,000 people have been able to communicate with clergymen, undergo medical examinations, receive advice from social protection specialists, and low—income residents have received gratuitous targeted assistance. It is planned that in 2025, residents of 50 settlements will be able to meet with clergy, medical workers and representatives of the social protection authorities of the region.