We are used to seeing Russian churches mainly in the CIS, but Orthodox domes can be found in unexpected places, such as Asian jungles or the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean Sea, including the Dominican Republic. On this resort island, there are two Orthodox missions, but only one church, located in the city of Sosua.

This small church, dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, was opened a few years ago. It currently has about 30 regular parishioners, and the Russian-speaking community numbers nearly 1,000 people. The temple is visited not only by citizens of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, but also by Orthodox Christians from Toronto and Montreal. Services in Sosua usually take place on Saturdays and Sundays, except for major church holidays. There is also a Russian-Dominican center here, where Russian-speaking teachers work. The center was created not only to promote Russian culture but also to ensure that the children of Russians living on the island do not forget their native language and traditions. Local residents also attend the center, some of whom have learned Russian to work as guides for Russian tourists.

The life of the rector of the Kazan Church in the Dominican Republic, Father Rafael Martinez-Gonzalez, is full of challenges. He combines the duties of a priest, accountant, and driver. The rent for the building costs $500 a month, not including utilities, and the community is sustained by voluntary donations. Father Rafael also travels to the town of Cabarete, where about 40 Orthodox Russians live, many of whom are elderly and cannot attend church on their own. To administer communion to them, he has to cover dozens of kilometers, reminiscent of conditions in the Russian hinterland.