Priest Sergiy (Kosov)

Working with Aleksandr Molodin has been a true blessing for our parish. Our community, St. Joseph of Optina Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, Virginia, is preparing for an important new stage in its life. We have acquired land in Chesapeake and are planning to build, first, a parish center that will include a fellowship hall, a small church for approximately 90 people, a church bookstore, and supporting utility spaces. In the future, we also hope to build a larger church and a priest’s house on the same property.

We first learned about Aleksandr through the Orthodox calendar he publishes each year. His work immediately stood out to us. Before we formally began working together, Aleksande shared an initial sketch of his vision for our future church complex. That first impression alone convinced us that he understood something that had been missing in our previous attempts to move this project forward.

Before contacting Aleksandr, we had spoken with local architects, but those efforts did not lead to a satisfactory result. While they were experienced professionals, they were not able to create a church design that was liturgically correct, proportionally balanced, and faithful to the Orthodox tradition. In most cases, the proposals felt like ordinary public or community buildings with a small dome added on top. What was lacking was a true understanding of Orthodox sacred architecture, especially within the Russian tradition, and the ability to integrate that tradition with the practical needs of parish life.

From the very beginning, Aleksandr approached our project at a much deeper level. He proposed that we should not design the parish center as an isolated building, but rather develop a long-term master plan for the entire property. He helped us think strategically about the future placement of the larger church, the parish center, parking, circulation, the priest’s residence, and the overall zoning of the site so that the property could be developed wisely and used efficiently for many years to come. This was an important insight, because it allowed us to avoid decisions that might later lead to unnecessary complications, additional expense, or the need to redo earlier work.

In the end, Aleksandr developed a comprehensive concept for the site as a whole. He carefully shaped the image of the future church in accordance with Orthodox liturgical and architectural principles, and he also designed the smaller church and parish center in detail. Everything was thoughtfully integrated into one unified vision. This was not simply a set of drawings. It was a coherent concept for the future growth of our parish.

Throughout the process, Aleksandr listened closely and respectfully to our needs, concerns, and wishes as his clients. At the same time, he brought many strong ideas of his own and consistently offered practical solutions. He helped us think not only about what would look beautiful, but also about how to avoid future problems, duplicate costs, and unnecessary spending, while still preserving the true character and dignity of an Orthodox church. We were especially grateful that Aleksandr took the initiative to communicate with our local municipal development department, clarified technical matters with them, and reflected those realities in his work. That gave us additional confidence that the concept was not only beautiful and spiritually appropriate, but also grounded in practical conditions on the ground.

The final result exceeded our expectations. Aleksandr provided not only a full set of conceptual drawings, but also photorealistic renderings and even a short video presentation. These materials have already become extremely valuable for our fundraising efforts. We have used them successfully in presentations to parishioners and major donors, and they have helped people finally see the future of our parish in a clear and compelling way.

Because of Aleksandr’s work, our church project has taken on visible form. What once felt like a distant hope has now become a realistic and understandable plan. His contribution has helped us move closer to securing financial support and has given us a clear sense of direction for the next stages of development and construction. Aleksandr completed his work ahead of schedule, personally visited us, answered all questions thoroughly, and presented the project in person to interested members of our community. We are truly grateful that he became involved in this effort. Entering into a building project is a new and challenging undertaking for our parish, but Aleksandr has given us confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.

We wholeheartedly recommend Aleksandr Molodin to Orthodox parishes, monasteries, and anyone seeking to build in a way that is faithful to Orthodox tradition, thoughtfully planned, and professionally executed.

Priest Sergiy Kosov, Rector St. Joseph of Optina Russian Ortodox Church Outside of Russia Chesapeake & Virginia Beach, Virginia