Kamensk-Uralsky, November 5, 2010
An unusual service was celebrated in Kamensk-Uralsk. A hot air balloon carrying the dean of the Southern ecclesiastical region, mitered Archpriest John Agafonov, in full priestly vestments, sailed across the sky over the city. Fr. John read all the necessary prayers and blessed the municipal development with holy water from the skies, reports the Orthodox Newspaper of the Ekaterinburg Diocese.
The balloon was provided by the local flight club, "Sky conquerors," headed by Vladimir Mikhailov, for the moleben.
The wind carried the flying balloon around the edge of town. Fr. John raised his prayer for a peaceful, happy life for Kamensk-Uralsky and all its inhabitants. From his vantage point, Fr. John had the opportunity to admire the beauty of his native Ural region.
The airborne moleben took place just before the feast of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God, which is also the Russian national Day of National Unity.
