OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2009. The official ceremony of consecration of the second dome and the cross of the Church of the Holy Trinity took place on 23 May at the walls of the Church of the Holy Trinity with St. Nicholas Chapel being built in Ust-Luga settlement. The event was timed to the Day of St. Nicholas, the patron of seafarers. The consecration order was performed by eminent Markell, bishop of Petershof. The consecration was followed by a solemn prayer service with an official ceremony of awarding the benefactors.

The ceremony of consecration of the second dome and the cross of the Church under construction was held within the framework of the Charitable Project of the Center of National Glory "Church of Marine Glory of Russia". The event was attended by Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin, President of the Center of National Glory.

The history of erecting the Church of the Holy Trinity with St. Nicholas Chapel is closely linked with development of the new port of Ust-Luga at the Baltic Sea. There are plans of building a new town of Ust-Luga for the port workers and their families, for those living in close proximity to the port. The first building of the town, as it goes in Russia, will be the Church. It is being erected with the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga.

Two years ago a capsule with the names of the church creators was laid into the wall of the Church of the Holy Trinity with St. Nicholas chapel. Last year a pilgrim trip was made to the Italian town of Bari where the icon for the Church being built in Ust-Luga was consecrated on the relics of St. Nicholas in the Basilica of St. Nicholas. The icon dated 1816 depicts St. Nicholas, Elijah the Prophet, St. Joseph, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the Saviour, the Protection of the Mother of God. It was presented to the Church under construction by the family of Valery Solomonovich Izrailyt, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for assistance to the Church construction, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ust-Luga Company OJSC. A month later the icon was brought into the Church. Last Saturday the second dome and the cross of the Church of the Holy Trinity that will soon take their places were consecrated.

Despite the economic situation in the country the benefactors do not suspend their activities related to erection of the Church of the Holy Trinity with St. Nicholas Chapel. This project is still a priority one for Ust-Luga Company OJSC, the general sponsor of the Church construction.

The major construction works are supposed to be completed this year together with development of the territories adjoining the Church. We hope that in 2010 the Church of the Holy Trinity with St. Nicholas Chapel will receive the first worshipers.