November 2, 2011
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The visitors, members of the Russian Club at the Military Academy, expressed an interest in visiting the parish in order to gain a better understanding of the Russian culture within the parish community.
Fr Sergei gave a tour of the parish school and familiarized the guests with its history. He pointed out that the school history and activities have been recognized by Russian Federation education authorities, and that school representatives have been invited to participate in several academic conferences in Russia. Some of the school’s graduates, thanks to their knowledge of the Russian language, history, and culture, have been able to achieve prestigious posts in the academic, business, and political worlds. Some parish school alumni have gone on to become presidents of Russian banks, government officials, and interpreters to US presidents.
The visitors were then given a tour of the parish church. Two of the cadets are of the Orthodox faith and noted that the church visit was "close to home." The visitors familiarized themselves with the services, symbolism, iconography, and architecture of the Russian Orthodox Church.
After a visit to the parish bookstore, all those present enjoyed a bountiful Russian dinner, prepared by the sisterhood. During the meal, the cadets had an opportunity to speak to the rector and parishioners about the rich history of Russian America. Many of the parishioners related their life stories and explained how they came to America and settled in Nyack’s Russian community.
Official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
