Protopriest Ioakim Lapkin Visits "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Parish in Atlanta

On Saturday, September 11, on the feast day of the Beheading of John the Forerunner, and on the following day, the feast day of St Alexander Nevsky, the Rector of the Church of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow", Priest Alexis Duncan, was joined in the services by Protopriest Ioakim Lapkin from Siberia. At the end of service, Fr Ioakim told the parishers about the life of his community and presented a photo exhibit at a conference room at a local hotel, after which he answered questions for over an hour. The Parish made a great impression on Fr Ioakim, as did he on the parishioners. The latter intend to stay in contact with him, and the parish children will write to their counterparts in Fr Ioakim's community as "pen-pals."

Should God Grant, Fr Ioakim will visit other parishes in the USA. He is expected to participate in the Pastoral Meeting of the clergy of the Western American Diocese, which will be held at the Cathedral of San Francisco in October.