Western European Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church reports growth of parishioners and establishment of new deaneries

Due to a significant increase in the number of parishioners in the Great Britain and Western European dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, a decision was made to establish four new deaneries. This step is aimed at optimizing the structure and further strengthening Orthodox life in the region.

According to the official website of the Diocese of Great Britain, the decision was made following a meeting of the clergy of the diocese held in November 2025 in Geneva. The new administrative structure provides for the division of the diocese into four separate districts, each of which will be headed by a dean, one of the senior clergy. Three of these deaneries are located on the continental part of Europe, while the fourth covers the territory of Great Britain and Ireland.

The diocese notes that over the past few years, Orthodox communities in Western Europe have expanded significantly. Many existing parishes have grown significantly, and more than ten new missions and churches have been opened in different countries. Work on the creation of new communities is actively ongoing.

«We are entering a new stage in the development of our diocese,» said Bishop Irinej of London and Western Europe, expressing gratitude to the clergy for their missionary service and invaluable contribution to strengthening the Orthodox tradition in both continental Europe and the British Isles.

The London and Western European Diocese of the ROCOR unites parishes of the Orthodox diaspora in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, and now the United Kingdom and Ireland.

To recap, the hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany (ROCOR), harshly criticized the OCU, saying that its head does not have canonical priestly or episcopal ordination, being essentially a layman. The bishop also emphasized that the interference of the Church of Constantinople in Ukrainian church affairs has led to the creation of a schismatic structure, and called on the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to persevere and hope for the truth.