On December 29, 2020, in anticipation of the new year, Governor of St. Petersburg Aleksandr Beglov met with representatives of religious faiths. Bishop Ivan Laptev represented The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria. The Governor thanked the representatives for working together to ensure people’s safety during the pandemic and for helping their neighbors in distress. “Our city has always been a center of attraction for many cultures and religions. The character of Leningraders/Petersburgers is traditionally built on mutual respect and a high ethical and spiritual culture.”