“Am I the only person now in my whole town who knows this?” – 
asked me a public school teacher from a small place near Uglich after the FaithSearch Discovery presentation at their Regional Teachers Conference – “I have been attending my church for many years, read lots of good Christian books and heard many good sermons but not one of them, not even once ever mentioned the historic and archeological evidence for Christ. Who am I to be responsible for making it known to every person in my small town? This is not what I came for to this annual conference but, sure, I am glad I did.”
“You probably do not remember me but I attended your presentation back in November in Yaroslavl Diocese” – said a young priest during the break at the training in Rostov Velikiy – “I came here today again to, first, make sure I remember your presentation well but also to see my fellow-priests’ eyes and faces when they hear it and see it for the first time. It is so exciting to have your personal faith experience confirmed by the evidence of archeological science and history!”
These and many other responses to the presentations in both secular and Church settings around the Yaroslavl Region made my days. 
This area of Russia is especially 
rich with most dramatic events in the country’s history and the audiences’ appreciation of the historic evidence and artifacts shows in the excitement of their responses. And, of course, I receive a special treatment and earn extra trust when I mention that my mom served in the anti-aircraft unit defending the electric station in their city (Uglich) during the Second World War.
I will be teaching here for two more days before moving to St. Petersburg and cannot have enough of sunshine before the usually gloomy “capital of the North”.
