Celebrations dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first Orthodox parish in Kaliningrad were held in Kaliningrad on April 23, 2025.
Metropolitan Seraphim of the Baltic and Svetlogorsk celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad, which was attended by all the clergy of the Kaliningrad Archdiocese — more than 100 clergymen.
During the Liturgy in the church, the governor of the Kaliningrad region, A.S. Besprozvanykh, representatives of the authorities and various enterprises of the region, educational institutions, healthcare, as well as Abbess of the Elisavetinsky Monastery, Abbess Elisaveta (Koltsova), abbess of the monastery in honor of the Sovereign Icon of the Mother of God, Abbess Sofia (Herchenroeder), abbess of St. Catherine's Monastery, Abbess Theodosia (Izgina), laity of the Kaliningrad Archdiocese, guests of the region.
Liturgical hymns were performed by: the Bishop's choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Kaliningrad, the bishop's choir of the Cathedral of Archangel Michael in Chernyakhovsk, the choir of the Church of Martyr Lydia in Kaliningrad, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zelenogradsk, the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of Saints Cyril and Mary of Radonezh, the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Constantine and Elena, Cathedral of St. Seraphim of Sarov Svetlogorsk, Holy Cross Cathedral, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called, as well as Our St. Andrew's Choir and the combined choir of the Orthodox center "Spas" and music schools of Kaliningrad.
During the service, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, seven clergy of the Kaliningrad Diocese and three clergy of the Chernyakhovsky diocese were awarded liturgical and hierarchical awards for their hard work for the benefit of the Church.
Metropolitan Seraphim of the Baltic and Svetlogorsk read out his Patriarchal congratulations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first Orthodox parish in Kaliningrad. "Back in 1985, Kaliningrad residents, who were languishing with spiritual thirst, were finally allowed to open an Orthodox parish, and subsequently the ancient dilapidated building of the Juditten church became a magnificent temple in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. I remember with what joy the faithful accepted the decision of the authorities, with what enthusiasm they worked to restore this church, and with what trepidation they waited for its consecration. This significant event marked the beginning of a new era in the spiritual life of the westernmost region of our Fatherland. Now, by the grace of God, the domes of many churches are being erected in the Kaliningrad Metropolis and strong parish communities are operating. Our joint task today is to do everything possible to ensure that the light of the Orthodox faith, which has illuminated the hearts of workers in the field of Christ over the past 40 years, does not fade, so that it is accepted by new generations of our fellow citizens," His Holiness says in his festive greeting.
For 40 years, more than 200 churches and chapels have been opened in the region, three monasteries have been founded, two Orthodox kindergartens and an Orthodox gymnasium are operating. Many cultural heritage monuments have been restored, restoration and construction of new churches are continuing, educational and social activities are developing. All these are not just numbers, but evidence of a genuine revival of Orthodoxy in the Amber Region. And behind all this is the tireless care and clear guidance of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who heads church life in Kaliningrad.
Metropolitan Seraphim, recalling the history of the Orthodox Church in the region, also highlighted the merits of the authorized Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR for the Kaliningrad region, Yu.Ya. Makhobaisky, with whose assistance it became possible to register an Orthodox society in Kaliningrad.
Governor Alexander Besprozvanykh emphasized the outstanding role of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the revival of Orthodoxy in the Kaliningrad region and noted the role of the Kaliningrad Archdiocese in supporting fighters in the special military operation zone. "The history of Orthodoxy in the region is an integral part of the history of the Kaliningrad Region, and a lot has been done over the past 40 years," the governor said. — If earlier Orthodox believers traveled to other regions in order to come to the temple to pray, today we are celebrating together with great joy the revival of Orthodoxy in Kaliningrad. The most important thing in a person's life that perfects him is faith. I believe that the initiatives that were laid 40 years ago will continue to develop, and Orthodoxy in Kaliningrad will flourish. Today, I would like to say special words of gratitude to all the clergy, Your Eminence, for the help that the church provides to our children on the front line. Your prayer and your support are of the utmost importance in our time, when we are faced with the resurgence of Nazism. As always, the Church is with the person and helps."
After the service, the opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Kaliningrad took place. It was opened by Governor A.S. Besprozvannykh and Metropolitan Serafim. The exhibition, which contains unique archival footage, introduces the history of Orthodoxy in the region and the modern life of the Kaliningrad Archdiocese.