Five new dioceses to reinforce the authority of the Moscow Patriarch

(June 08, 2011 ) The Russian Orthodox Church is reinforcing the authority of the Moscow’ Patriarh by setting up new dioceses. Recently it expanded its pastoral work and set up five new dioceses. The decision was taken on 31 May at a session of the Holy Synod, the Patriarchate’s highest administrative authority, chaired by Patriarch Kirill. According to some analysts, in addition to improving the Church’s local administration, the new framework will strengthen the Patriarch’s authority. Last year, the head of the Russian Church had already began a more centralized re-organization of the Church and its activities, including in the field of mission. “We must make important decisions on how to reorganize some dioceses,” Patriarch Kirill said opening the session. “We must think about steps to take, so that the life of the Church in a number of regions, can become more intense and coherent with the guidelines of the Council of Bishops”.
According to Roman Lunkin, director of the Institute of Religion and the Law, “reforming the Church administration will strengthen the authority of the Patriarch in the provinces, because the new bishops will be subject to him.” The Church Russian Orthodox has 164 dioceses, 217 bishops, 30,675 parishes and 29,324 priests. It also has 805 monasteries, 398 for men and 407 for women.