GERMAN DIOCESE: 7 October 2025
A joint gathering of clergy of both German dioceses of the Russian Church is held

On Thursday, October 2, 2025, a general pastoral assembly of both German dioceses, one of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the other belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, began at the Church of Saint Great Martyr Barbara in the city of Krefeld, Germany. The meeting was opened by His Eminence Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza (ROC MP) and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart. Archpriest Nikolai Artemoff read a welcoming message from His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany (ROCOR).

In 2025, the Orthodox Church will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea. In this regard, the meeting featured reports titled: "The Relevance of the Council of Nicaea," presented by Archpriest Evgeny Murzin, and "The Pastoral Significance of the First Ecumenical Council," delivered by Archpriest Professor Ioan Moga (Romanian Orthodox Church, Vienna).

The second day of the General Pastoral Assembly began with the conciliar celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St Barbara on the occasion of the feast of All German Saints. After Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Ilya Limberger gave a report on the topic “The Sacrament of Confession – Problems and Solutions in Modern Practice,” and Priest Alexey Veselov (MP) spoke on the topic: “Ecclesiology: The Boundaries of the Church and Their Practical Significance.”

At the end of the discussion, the gathered clerics had the opportunity to address questions to the hierarchs and discuss current issues of pastoral practice and diocesan life. Summing up the Diocesan Assembly and pastoral meeting, Archbishop Tikhon expressed satisfaction with the work accomplished and thanked everyone responsible for the precise and well-organized management of this important diocesan event.

At the conclusion of the event in the afternoon, there was a pilgrimage to the Kamp Monastery in the town of Kamp-Lintfort, where a prayer service was held at the relics of Holy Martyr Agatha.

Herald of the German Diocese