On May 10th the Church of Christ the Savior was the site of a Baptism for the first time in 80 years. It was at this time that the Berdyansk Lutheran Church opened up its doors for congregation members.
The Church is still undergoing repairs, in particular to the interior. But the congregation, which up until now met in a German cultural center, has decided that it is ready to begin services in the church again.
GELCU Bishop Sergey Mashevsky, presided at the baptism of Alisa Karakulova. There was also a very special guest present that day – Harry Tse, who was one of the last people baptized in the church in the 1930s. During the day the congregation was acutely aware of how God has worked there in the past and its hopes for God's work there in the future.
Behind the altar there is a cross nearly 5 meters high that congregation members made themselves out of the ruins of the old roof. It has been decorated by a Luther rose, a gift from Andrey Lokay from Germany. On the side altar there is a painting of the crucifixion that was recently returned to the church. It had been kept in a private home for many years and the canvas is in need of repair. But it is now in a new frame under glass and reminds members and guests of how the church has suffered.
Thanks to many years of cooperation the Catholic congregation in town was kind enough to give the congregation an electronic organ for its use temporarily, and citizens of the city are happy to see that the church is coming back to life.
The Church is still undergoing repairs, in particular to the interior. But the congregation, which up until now met in a German cultural center, has decided that it is ready to begin services in the church again.
GELCU Bishop Sergey Mashevsky, presided at the baptism of Alisa Karakulova. There was also a very special guest present that day – Harry Tse, who was one of the last people baptized in the church in the 1930s. During the day the congregation was acutely aware of how God has worked there in the past and its hopes for God's work there in the future.
Behind the altar there is a cross nearly 5 meters high that congregation members made themselves out of the ruins of the old roof. It has been decorated by a Luther rose, a gift from Andrey Lokay from Germany. On the side altar there is a painting of the crucifixion that was recently returned to the church. It had been kept in a private home for many years and the canvas is in need of repair. But it is now in a new frame under glass and reminds members and guests of how the church has suffered.
Thanks to many years of cooperation the Catholic congregation in town was kind enough to give the congregation an electronic organ for its use temporarily, and citizens of the city are happy to see that the church is coming back to life.
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