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24 March 2011, 17:39Star named after Vladimir saint
Vladimir, March 24, Interfax - Star of 16th magnitude in Scorpius constellation is called after St. Afanasy of Kovrov - the saint who held divine services even in Vladimir jail.
Vladimir Orthodox gymnasium initiated a request to name the star after the Orthodox saint, local edition of the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily reports on Thursday.
Official certificate on naming the celestial body was given to pupils by Commander of Space Crew, Hero of Russia Yury Lonchakov and rector of the Transfiguration Church in Zvezdny Gorodok Hegumen Iov (Talats).
Father Afanasy Sakharov was appointed bishop of Kovrov, vicar of the Vladimir Diocese in 1921 at the age of 34, but next year he was arrested. Next 30 years he spent in camps and exiles, his last term in jail ran out on November 9, 1951. |