On December 9, on the day of memory of St. Innocent, the first Bishop of Irkutsk, in the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, Mary in Beijing in the morning, the Divine Liturgy was served, which was led by the rector of the Church, Hieromonk Innokenty (Kolesnikov), who celebrates his name day on this day.
By decree of Peter I, Saint Innocent was sent to serve in Beijing. Due to bureaucratic delays and court intrigues, he never managed to cross the border with China, and by the will of God he settled in Irkutsk, becoming the first bishop in history of this city and all of Eastern Siberia.
