In the Red Fangzi, Services of the first week of Lent were held for the Orthodox community belonging to the church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God on the premises of the Russian Embassy in Beijing.
The Rite of Forgiveness and reading of the Great Repentance Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete on Monday of the first week were led by Archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyaev. During the following days, Services were held by the priest Alexy Kiselevich. In the course of the week, he also administered the Sacrament of Baptism - he has baptized several children and adults, Russian citizens living presently in China.
On Friday evening of the first week, Fr. Alexy heard confessions. On Saturday, March 15th, on the day commemorating the "Stately" Icon of the Mother of God and of Great Martyr Theodore Tyro a Divine Liturgy was celebrated, during which many people received the Holy Communion, children among them, many of whom are attending the Sunday School. The activities of the children group of the Sunday school were devoted to Lent as well.
This year, coinciding with the first days of Lent, much earlier than usual spring has arrived in Beijing. On the grounds of the Embassy the cherry blossom opened its flowers, magnolias bloomed, the grass turned green. Particularly picturesque is the look of the "island" in the Embassy Park, where originally the Church of All Holy Martyrs of the Russian Spiritual Mission that was razed in 1957 was situated. On April 3, 2007, with the blessing of His Holiness Alexy, the Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, on the place of the destroyed church following the plan of B. G. Aleksandrov (nephew of Metropolitan Victor Sviatin - the Head of the last Spiritual Mission in China) a small memorial was built consisting of a Devotional Cross and a plaque bearing a depiction of the church accompanied by a historical overview of it.
At the beginning of spring this Year, substantial work was done aimed at embellishing the entire "island": new trees and shrubs emerged, young birches brought from the Russian Far East were planted, the grass was trimmed, miniature pathways were formed, lanterns put on place, and benches designed for rest were set. Here also a sport's square with modern training equipment came into being. Soon, a children's playground with different play requisites will be established.
This beautification also included the memorial on the place of the church. The remaining fragment of its foundation was adorned with special brick pieces, and covered above with a glass panel, while inside lights were put. During nighttime small reflectors are illuminating the Cross and the memorial. Around the memorial a minute square was made of pavestone. By Providence this holy place of historic significance was marked in a dignified way, and thus it shall be preserved in the memory of our Russian compatriots. Here many people are coming, taking photographs, getting acquainted with the history of Orthodoxy in China, and at the same time our children are strolling too, who, we hope, will keep alive these recollections transmitting them from generation to generation.
Tatyana Manakova The Community of the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Beijing