Church of Moscow Grows, Patriarch Kirill says
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill (R) leads a Christmas service at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2021. Photo EPA, Maxim Shipenkov
Eastern Europe
Churches are doing well in Moscow, according to Patriarch Kirill. He announced that the number of religious communities is growing.
In total, there are 1,227 churches and chapels of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. According to Patriarch Kirill, that is nine more than a year earlier. He said so on Thursday at a diocesan meeting in the Hall of Church Cathedrals in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Ria Novosti reports. In 549 churches, services are held at least once a week. That is eight more than last year.
The Patriarch added that 88 new churches have been established, and 38 more clergies were appointed in 2022. Also, three presbyters and twenty deacons were ordained, Patriarchia.ru reports.
Overcrowded
The social composition of the church population changes too, says Patriarch Kirill, as reported by Ria Novosti. He notices that more and more young people are coming to church. “I see overcrowded churches that have appeared where they never were, and I see many people of young and middle age”, Kirill stated. He also noted that the involvement of young people in church life remains a priority.
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