It is unlikely to expect to see Russian girls in national dresses and kokoshniks in the provincial Brazilian town of Campina das Missões. However, such surprise can only be noticed by tourists, as the locals have long been accustomed to Russians. Our compatriots settled here back in the early 20th century. It was then that the Church in honor of Apostle John the Theologian was built, which became a spiritual center. The first church, however, stood for a short time and burned down 30 years later in a forest fire.

In 1955, the community decided to build a new church closer to the city, away from the jungles. During the Perestroika period, when it became easier to interact with other countries, the church came under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. On holidays such as Christmas and Easter, dozens of Russian-speaking citizens and local residents who have embraced Orthodoxy come here. Services are conducted in Church Slavonic, which, according to the community, helps preserve Russian traditions. Women come to such events in national costumes and kokoshniks, which greatly surprises tourists. Sometimes, lunches are organized here, serving national dishes: dumplings, vareniki, borscht, and aspic. There is also barbecue, as in Brazil, a country of "meat-eaters," refusing beef, especially during fasting, is perceived as a feat.

The Church of John the Theologian is also associated with another remarkable object, a monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Russian community. It is a cross with a figure of Apostle John the Theologian at its base. Nearby is a composition: a peasant with a hoe on his shoulder thoughtfully gazes into the horizon, while behind him, a mother and daughter wave ears of wheat and sunflowers, as if sending greetings to distant Russia.