Are there any peculiarities about the service of a Russian Orthodox priest abroad?
– It is a special service of course. Parishioners are people who are already integrated in the Western culture and Western way of life. It is difficult to find among them the ones who would assume assistance in parish affairs. Besides, the attitude to the Church here is somewhat different from that in Russia. I would describe it as consumerist. Some regard a church as a sort of club in which one can sit and talk, unaware of the spiritual essence of the church sacraments. This is disturbing, of course, and I try to eradicate this attitude. But it is rather difficult to do since local peoples mentality has been strongly influenced by the Protestant culture. Besides, as parishioners are unable to withstand long service we cannot not conduct major All-Night Vigils and have to shorten the services. As I have already mentioned, you cannot always serve whenever you would like to, because the conditions do not allow this. As for benefactors, unfortunately, there are no large-scale businessmen
