The consecration of the church in the name of the holy blessed prince Alexander Nevsky took place in the Italian city of Varese on October 31, 2021. The old church building, formerly part of the former Catholic monastery complex, has been acquired by the Russian Orthodox Church, Pravlife reports.

The rite of the great consecration of the church and the Divine Liturgy were led by the administrator of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Italy, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun and Western European. His Eminence was co-served by the rector of the Church of St. Ambrose of the Mediolan in Milan, the cleric of the Kiev Metropolis, Archimandrite Ambrose (Makar), the secretary of the Administration of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Italy, Hieromonk Ambrose (Matsegora), the rector of the Alexander Nevsky parish, Priest Vladimir Khomenoko, Archpriest Rhomenoko of the Alexander Nevsky.

Liturgical chants were sung by a quartet of graduates of the Kiev Theological Schools, who had arrived for the holiday.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony congratulated the clergy and parishioners on a significant event in the life of the local community and the entire Russian Orthodoxy in Italy. The bishop especially emphasized that the consecration of the church took place in the year of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky.

Metropolitan Anthony thanked everyone involved in the acquisition, restoration and improvement of the church. E.V. Arkhipova, he presented the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, II degree. The works of the parishioners were marked with bishops’ letters.