Russia is currently discussing the possible canonization of General Alexander Suvorov. Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, Chairman of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Interaction with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, stated on June 5 that Suvorov deserves to be glorified by the Church as a saint. He described Suvorov as a "man of holy life and deep religiosity." This week, the spiritual role of Alexander Suvorov was also discussed in the Public Chamber. Representatives from Russia, Belarus, and Switzerland participated in a conference on his spiritual legacy.
Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia from the Jerusalem Orthodox Church issued a statement calling attention to the persecution and oppression of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. He emphasized that the Jerusalem Church opposes using the military conflict as a pretext for persecuting the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine, Estonia, and other countries.
Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, visited Ukraine. On June 1, he served the liturgy with Metropolitan Onuphrius at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi. Later, Metropolitan Tikhon met with members of the UOC Synod. During his visit, he expressed support for the Primate and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and called on Ukrainian authorities to respect freedom of religion and adhere to international law.
On June 1, the church of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, was grandly consecrated in Lippstadt, Germany. Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza, head of the Berlin-German Diocese, led the ceremony. This church was acquired by the Berlin-German Diocese from the Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn in 2022.
A new Orthodox church was consecrated in Incheon, South Korea, on June 3. The ruling bishop, Archbishop Theophan of Korea, performed the minor consecration of the church dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great, one of the founders of monasticism. Earlier this year, Archbishop Theophan founded a missionary monastery in Incheon, where the brotherhood began setting up a house church.
The Russian Orthodox Church has begun its mission in Liberia. Cleric of the Exarchate Parthenius Dansu arrived in Liberia from Côte d'Ivoire, met with two Protestant communities wishing to convert to Orthodoxy, and began their catechization. On June 4, Father Parthenius performed the sacrament of Baptism for the leaders of these two communities.
On June 3, celebrations were held in Montenegro to mark the 25th anniversary of the episcopal service of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral. Abbot Cyril of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov, participated in the events. Bishop Cyril stayed in Montenegro from June 1 to 4 and co-served with Metropolitan Joanikije during the liturgy on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the birth, 45th anniversary of the repose, and 10th anniversary of the uncovering of the relics of Saint Justin (Popović). In his sermon after the liturgy on June 4, Bishop Cyril emphasized that the century-old communication between the Russian and Serbian peoples and their spiritual unity is a great blessing from God.
On June 2, celebrations were held in Astana to mark the 170th anniversary of the city's oldest church, the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helena. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan led the celebrations. On the same day, a cornerstone was consecrated for the construction of a new residential building for the women's monastery dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking of the Lost."