On April, 25 2006 the Russian President’s plenipotentiary in the Volga Federal District (VFD) Alexander Konovalov visited the St. John the Theologian Makarovka monastery. He was accompanied by all top officials of the Mordovian Government. After Alexander Konovalov viewed all monastery temples and was told the story about the monastery history, he with the archbishop of Saransk and Mordovia Varsanofiy and the Father superior of our monastery the hegumen Lazar (Gurkin) sang the Easter troparion in the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian.The name of the troparion was "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life"

The visit ended with the ceremonial reception in the out-of-town residence of the archbishop.