Church of St. Spyridon

Russian church snaps up parishioners with crocodiles in basement zoo

(28 Oct 2018) The church of Saint Spyridon in the town of Lomonosov near Saint-Petersburg, is winning over new parisioners, particularly children, with a unusual attraction.
Oleg Yemelianenko the priest has added a menagerie in the church's basement, which includes three Nile crocodiles and other exotic animals.
There is no zoo in Lomonosov, so the church and its basement adds an inviting dimension to Sunday mass.
Yemelianenko founded his menagerie 10 years ago when moved his a two-metre long crocodile Henry to the church to teach his five children a love for nature.
Over time, the church zoo has been expanded by other species such as terrapins, an iguana, rodents, and birds.
Now the room for the animals is going to be enlarged, and the animals will get new cages and the crocodiles a new pool.

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