On June 5, 2011 Arhbishop of Rostov and Novocherkassk Panteleimon consecrated a new altar of the lower chapel of the Nativity church in honor of Reverend Seraphim of Sarov, the Wonderworker.

The events organized in this connection were attended by administration of Rosenergoatom Concern, Rostov NPP, NIAEP OJSC, administration of Volgodonsk city and the city Duma, contracting organizations, members of the Russian Navy submariners club, Cossacks, orthodox church goers and the inhabitants of the city.  

The Nativity temple complex comprises a lower church, the erection of which in honor of Reverend Seraphim of Sarov - a patron of the nuclear power industry, was blessed by Archbishop Panteleimon at nuclear scientists’ request.

 Archbishop Panteleimon performed the rite of consecration together with priests of Volgodonsk and Semikarakorsk Deanery, as well as pontifical male choir. And the lower church was hardly enough for all who wished to take part in the church service.

After the altar consecration the Archbishop served a Divine Liturgy. After the Liturgy the Archbishop addressed all those present with admonition and told them about the role the church played in our life and society.

Then there was a ceremony of awarding the sponsors and the church constructors. The Rural Dean of Volgodonsk district was awarded a pontifical medal of priestly martyr Nikolay Popov, divine patron of Don territory. Pontifical merit certificates for earnest service to the Russian Orthodox Church were given to Head of Rosatom State Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko, General Director of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC Sergey Obozov, Director of Rostov NPP Alexander Palamarchuk, General Director of NIAEP OJSC Valery Limarenko, Mayor of Volgodonsk Viktor Firsov and other members of administration and private persons.  

“Joy fills the heart when I look at this church and the faces of people”, General Director of NIAEP OJSC Valery Limarenko said. “We, nuclear scientists, have a rule: we erect a new church at the place of construction of a new power unit. So, together with commissioning of the second power unit of Rostov NPP we built Reverend Seraphim of Sarov church”.

By Christmas the nuclear scientists are going to complete construction of the main church of the city – the Nativity church.

Mayor Viktor Firsov regards cooperation between the city administration and the nuclear scientists as very advantageous. “With the nuclear power plant startup we received additional taxes to the city budget. These deductions also contributed to prosperity and improvement of the city. And another present for the city, received with direct participation of the nuclear scientists, is this beautiful church. And if earlier Volgodosnk inhabitants gave the waste ground where the temple complex is erected, rather a derogatory name, today it’s one of the most beautiful places in the city, its landmark”, the mayor emphasized.