Imperial Russian Prisoners of War Commemorated in Slovenia

A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church led by Bishop Kirill of Stavropol' has participated in ceremonies marking the 95th anniversary of the death of Russian prisoners of war during World War I at a prison camp established by Austria-Hungary in what today is Slovenia. It is estimated that some 10,000 Russian soldiers died as prisoners.

A chapel has been built in Slovenia to commemorate the soldiers, many of whom were killed in a landslide while being used as forced labor to build roads. In addition to participating in commemorative events in the Slovene capital Bishop Kirill also visited the prisoners' chapel, where a memorial was served for their repose. More (in Russian) here.

Russian Orthodox Bishop Calls on "Cossack Autocephalous Church" Organizers to Repent

Bishop Kirill (Pokrovskiy) of Stavropol', chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's commission on relations with the Cossacks, has called on the organizers of a "Cossack Autocephalous Church," found this past June in the Russian city of Podolsk, to repent of their schism and embrace the unity of the Orthodox Church to prevent the further division of the Cossack movement in Russia. More (in Russian) here.

Bishop Cyril of Stavropol' Meets with Cossack Clergy

Bishop Kirill (Pokrovskiy) of Stavropol' has met with the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church serving Cossack communities and organizations in Russia proper to discuss issues in the lives of Russia's Cossacks. Singled out in particular were the growing influence of neo-paganism amongst the Cossacks and plans to resettle Cossacks immigrating from Kyrgyzstan in southern Russia. More (in Russian) here.

Conference Held for Belorussian Cossacks

Moscow's Donskoy Monastery has hosted a conference for the atamans and clergy serving the Cossack community in Belarus. Following a supplication (молебен) in the Donskoy Monastery's cathedral Bishop Kirill of Stavropol', chairman of the Russian Orthodox Synodal Commission for Cooperation with the Cossacks, said in part that, "The Cossacks today will not only spiritually revive, but will also protect the Orthodox Faith in the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church...and, if necessary, give their lives, as our ancestors did, for the Faith." More (in Russian) 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.