From August 21-27, 2023, the ELCIR Theological Institute in Koltushi, Leningrad Oblast, held the 4th and final class & exam period of the Cantor Course. Fifteen students attended class and took exams, making it the biggest class of church musicians in the Institute’s history. The course’s main topics were the musical setting of the … [Read more...]
Koltushi Lutheran Church holds Christmas Song Night
Attached are some of the photos taken during a Christmas Song Night at the Lutheran Church of Koltushi, Leningrad Oblast. Many thanks to the Koltushi Church Choir, Mikael Agricola Choir from Vyborg, Petteri and Anu Mannermaa for the wonderful musical accompaniment, Irina Makkonen for organizing the sale, Irina Hutter and Olga Mattova for the … [Read more...]
Bishop Emeritus Kugappi, Dept. Head Makkonen reach out with God’s Word and comfort to nursing home residents
On April 19, 2022, Bishop Emeritus Arri Kugappi and interim head of the ELCIR Diaconal Department Irina Makkonen visited Koltushi Social Diaconal Community Service Center in Koltushi, Leningrad Oblast. Bishop Kugappi celebrated a communion service for the residents. Original post in Russian … [Read more...]
Days of Eastern Work Go Online!
By Darya Shkurlyatyeva, ELCIR Press Service “Christ Unites” was the motto of Idäntyönpäivät / Days of Eastern Work 2021. Almost 50 years ago, in the times of the Soviet Union, Finnish Christians agreed to get together once a year in order to pray about their eastern neighbors. Today, one can openly follow Christianity in Russia, Estonia, and … [Read more...]
St. Mary’s Church Hosts Diaconal Seminar
On January 16, 2021, Aleksandr Smirnov and Irina Makkonen led a diaconal seminar at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg. They talked about the biblical basis for the church’s social work and how to organize such work in a particular church congregation. Training through such seminars helps get a better understanding of the congregation’s … [Read more...]