Saint Petersburg, Moscow

By the grace of God, the Diocesan delegation traveled safely from Los Angeles to St. Petersburg, Russia, after a brief layover in Munich, Germany. His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH led a prayer before the journey, invoking the intercessions of the Theotokos and Virgin Mary as he recited the Kontakion of the Annunciation (“To Thee, the Champion Leader”). The group left Los Angeles International Airport around 8:40 P.M. on Monday, June 9, and arrived in St. Petersburg just after midnight on Wednesday, June 11. The entire journey in the air lasted over 14 hours, but the delegates arrived refreshed and ready to visit the holy and historic sites that reveal the glory of Russia.