The priest became the "Man of the Year of Novopolotsk" for the first time
For the first time in Novopolotsk, at the "Evening of Honoring the Winners of the City Labor Competition for the Results of 2014" a priest was invited to the stage. Archpriest Alexander Karandey became the "Person of the Year of Novopolotsk" in the nomination "Local Government and Self-Government, Insurance, Social Protection, Public Activities".
The certificate was presented to the clergyman by the Mayor of Novopolotsk, Dmitry Demidov. Father Alexander also has church awards, including the right to wear a palitsa, as well as the medal of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk.
Since January 2007, Priest Alexander Karandey has been serving as the rector of the Novopolotsk church of the Icon of the Mother of God
"Unexpected Joy". He began his presbyteral service when divine services were still held in the building of the former laundry, which was transferred to the parish. Currently, Sunday school classes are held here, and there is a library.By the blessing of Archbishop Theodosius of Polotsk and Glubokoye, Father Alexander undertook the work of building a new stone church. This required maximum dedication and enormous spiritual effort. Through the care and diligence of Father Alexander, the construction of a new magnificent church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God
"Unexpected Joy" was completed.Currently, the priest spiritually guides children living in the Novopolotsk children's shelter, regularly visits the nursing care unit of the city hospital, and the day care unit for disabled people. The priest hears confessions, administers communion, baptizes, and holds conversations with people.
Archpriest Alexander became one of the initiators of the emergence of city-wide spiritual traditions in Novopolotsk. Among them are processions with the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (held twice a year, on July 6 and September 8, on the days of remembrance of the Vladimir Icon), the anti-abortion campaign
"Light a Candle…" (held on January 11, the day of remembrance of the 14,000 Holy Innocents of Bethlehem) and others.