Warplane to be named in honour of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Licea

A multifunctional fighter-bomber SU-34 beginning its service in Russian Airforce currently on a rest-in test will be named in honour of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Licea and Miracle-Worker. The face of the holy patron of the travelers will be depicted on the body of the airplane after its blessing, Lipetsk Regional News report.

Lipetsk-Inforcentr reports this is a joint initiative of the Lipetsk diocese, the aircentre and the Russian St. Nicholas Foundation. The warplane will be blessed during the celebration of the 55^th anniversary of the Chkalov Centre of tactical employment and conversion training in Lipetsk to be held on 19-20 June 2008.

The St. Nicholas Foundation will also help to build an Orthodox chapel on the territory of the Lipetsk military airfield.