On August 31, 2026, the TASS press center in Moscow hosted a press conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Appearance of Christ the Savior in Elista and the premiere of a new documentary film by the Spas TV channel, The Miracle of Elista.
The press conference was attended by the head of the Republic of Kalmykia B.S. Khasikov, Archbishop Justinian of Elista and Kalmykia, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media V.R. Legoyda, General Director of the Spas TV channel B.V. Korchevnikov and film director R.G. Gangan.
The meeting with journalists focused on the event that took place in Elista on September 11, 1946. According to the testimonies of parishioners, during prayer in the Holy Cross Church, the Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ occurred. 26 people became eyewitnesses.
The Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, B.S. Khasikov, noted that the Appearance of Christ in Elista is important not only for the history of the region, but also for the whole country. According to him, this event has become a symbol of Russia protecting the world from evil.
In 1947, the icon "The Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to those praying in the city of Elista" was painted in honor of this miracle. Its creation has become one of the main evidences of a miracle. Archbishop Justinian handed over the list of this icon to B.V. Korchevnikov.
The chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media, V.R. Legoyda, pointed out the importance of the self-determination of "Holy Russia," emphasizing that holiness was an ideal and example for our pious ancestors, with whom every person correlated their lives.
V.R. Legoyda also spoke about the Christian attitude to miracles: "It seems to me that God performs It's a miracle to show that He's with us. But when we say, "God is with us," we should always ask ourselves, "Are we with God?""According to the speaker, a miracle in the Christian understanding is a manifestation of Divine love.
B.V. Korchevnikov recalled the events of 1946 and the words of St. Luke of Crimea, which relate to the same time. Archbishop Luke wrote about the "terrible spiritual desert" and the ruin of church life. It was during this period, the speaker noted, that the Appearance of Christ took place in Elista. According to him, this story reminds us that church welfare is fragile and cannot be taken for granted.
Another unusual fact was shared by the film's director, R.G. Gangan. During the transfer of the remains of S.T. Bondarenko, a participant in those events, it was discovered that the wooden cross, which was placed in the deceased's hand during burial, was completely preserved, while the remains themselves and even the metal nails eventually decayed. According to the director, during the transportation, the cross was streaming myrrh, which amazed the crew members.
Archbishop Justinian also noted that for the residents of Elista, the Appearance of Christ is an indisputable fact, but few people know about this event. Vladyka quoted the words from the Book of Tobit: "The secrets of the king should be kept, and the works of God should be proclaimed to the whole world" (Vol. 12:7).