Antiochian Church bishop comes “within the bounds of the Donetsk Eparchy”
Bishop Dimitry of Safita (in the center) in Mariupol. Photo: Alexander Ivanov
On May 8, 2025, Bishop Dimitry of Safita of the Antiochian Church arrived on a visit to the "territory of the Donetsk Eparchy", reports the Moscow Patriarchate's website.
The Antiochian hierarch, "with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill", visited churches in the occupied Mariupol along with the newly appointed Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol from the ROC.
It is reported that Bishop Dimitry of Safita visited the rebuilt Assumption and Transfiguration Churches, which were completely destroyed, as well as the St Nicholas Cathedral.
The text says that “the ruling bishop introduced the vicar of the Akkar Metropolis to the life of Orthodox Christians in the Donbass, the peculiarities of church life in the conditions of hostilities, and also spoke about the revival of shrines destroyed by war.” The hierarchs were accompanied by representatives of the "DPR government".
Earlier, the UOJ analyzed why the ROC Synod's removal of Donetsk Metropolitan Hilarion in October 2024 violated canonical norms.
Read also
Met. Emmanuel: Constantinople does not support Montenegro's schismatics
Metropolitan Emmanuel stated that the Constantinople Patriarchate has never contacted schismatics in Montenegro.
Constantinople hierarch: We hope the ROC helps bring one Church in Ukraine
The Metropolitan of Chalcedon said that the Church of Constantinople is hoping for the ROC's good will for dialogue on the Ukrainian issue.
Suspended bishop files a lawsuit against the Church in Armenia
The lawsuit by a hierarch banned from serving against the leadership of the Armenian Church is the first such case in modern Armenia, where the Church is separated from the state.
Bosnia’s Interreligious Council speaks out against creating “Bosnian Church”
The Interreligious Council of Bosnia rejected an attempt to form a separate religious structure outside the canonical jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Germany sends €63 million to international abortion organizations – media
Despite official statements, German authorities allocated tens of millions of euros in 2022–2025 to organizations promoting abortion abroad.
Pashinyan says Catholicos’ activities threaten Armenia’s security
At a briefing in Yerevan, Armenia’s head of government said the Catholicos poses a threat to the state.