Bishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk Interviewed on Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan

Bishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and the Orthodox Church in Circassia, administrator of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox parishes in Turkmenistan, has granted an interview on the status of the Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan. Overall the situation seems to be improving, with the parishes coming under the direct authority of the Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Christian religious literature being allowed into the country, and several new parishes currently in the process of being registered with the Turkmenistani government.

During the interview Bishop Theophylact also discussed his recent pastoral visit to Turkmenistan over Pascha and the ongoing efforts to translate the divine services into Turkmen. 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.