BELGOROD: September 27, 2009
The Delegation of the Russian Church Abroad Led by Metropolitan Hilarion Visits Belgorod Diocese (Photo-report)

During their visit to Belgorod Diocese, ruled by Archbishop Ioann of Belgorod and Starooskolsk, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia participated in the opening of the "Khotmyzhskaya Osen'" Slavic Cultural Festival. The travelers also visited Belgorod Theological Seminary, which focuses on missionary work; the holy sites of the diocese, and Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, in which St Ioasaph's uncorrupted relics lie. The saint is venerated not only locally but throughout Russia. At the festival's opening, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion gave Governor ES Savchenko of Belgorod oblast the Synodal Znamensky Medal of the Second Order.