Services Being Translated Into Ossetian

In a recent interview Archbishop Zosima (Ostapenko) of Vladikavkaz expressed the hope that by the 1,100th anniversary of the Baptism of the Alans in 2014 the translation of the divine services into the Ossetian language would be complete so that the Alans' modern day descendants could pray in their own language. The full Russian-language interview, which covers the overall state of the Russian Orthodox Eparchy of Vladikavkaz, can be found here.

Archbishop Zosima Arrives in Alania

Archbishop Zosima of Vladikavkaz has arrived in his new diocese, which includes North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan, after completing 27 years of service in the Eparchy of Elista and Kalmykia. One of Archbishop Zosima's first stops was at the cemetery in Beslan to commemorate the victims of the Beslan terrorist attack buried there. More here.

Holy Synod Creates New Dioceses in Caucasus, Elects New Bishops

At its ongoing session the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has established the Eparchies of Pyatigorsk and Circassia and Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala. The former will care for the Mineralniye and Kirov regions of Stavropol' Krai as well as the Republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachayevo-Cherkessia. The latter will have jurisdiction over North Ossetia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Chechnya.

In the aftermath of the changes Archbishop Theophan of Stavropol' and Vladikavkaz was transferred to the Eparchy of Chelyabinsk, whilst Archbishop Zosima of Elista and Kalmykia was elected Bishop of Vladikavkaz and Bishop Theophylact of Smolensk was elected Bishop of Pyatigorsk. Auxiliary Bishop Kirill of Pavlovskiy Posad was also elected Bishop of Stavropol', retaining charge of the patriarchal commission for cooperation with the Cossacks. Archimandrite Zinoviy (Korzinkin) was also made Bishop-elect of Elista and Kalmykia. More here.