ROC establishes parish in Abu Dhabi and appoints new Western European exarch

At the first meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2026, held March 12 at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, a decision was made to establish a Russian Orthodox parish in Abu Dhabi, UAE. According to Orthodox Times, the decision was made after Russian-speaking parishioners in Abu Dhabi appealed to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church and with the consent of Patriarch John X of Antioch.

The new parish will be dedicated to the Kazan icon of the Mother of God and will be under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch. The pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Church of St. Philip the Apostle in Sharjah.

In addition, the Synod appointed Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky as the new Metropolitan of Korsun and Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. He will retain the temporary administration of the Budapest-Hungarian diocese, but will be released from the administration of the Ryazan diocese. Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe was relieved of his duties as Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe and appointed Bishop of Stupino, Vicar of the Diocese of Korsun.

The Synod also considered the canonization of saints in the Serbian Orthodox Church and included the names of St. Nicodemus (Milas), Bishop of Dalmatia-Istria, and St. Righteous Anna, mother of St. Basil of Ostrog, in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. The dates of their celebration were approved: September 21/October 4 and April 30/May 13, respectively.

Other issues were also discussed during the meeting, including a report on Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk’s visit to Israel, where he participated in an interreligious conference in Jerusalem, and personnel changes in the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.