During the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on March 20, 2025, a report was heard by the chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints, Bishop Pankratiy of Troitsk, on the approval of the Cathedral of Saints of the Chuvash Metropolis and the addition of the Cathedral of Smolensk Saints.
According to the definition of the Holy Synod, adopted at a meeting on May 16, 2023, "further additions to the lists of names of local cathedrals of saints, as well as the approval of new lists, will be decided upon as they are prepared by the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints in cooperation with the Department of Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and the relevant dioceses, with the presentation of the results of the work to the Holy Synod."
In connection with the request of Metropolitan Savvati of Cheboksary and Chuvashia, the members of the Holy Synod decided to approve the list of names of the Cathedral of Saints of the Chuvash metropolis.
In connection with the request of Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk and Dorogobuzhsky, it was decided to add the following names to the list of saints of the Metropolitan of Smolensk:
• St. Moses of Optina, who lived with other desert dwellers in the forests of Roslavl (1811-1820) before moving to Optina of Deserts;
• St. Anthony of Optina, who lived with other desert dwellers in the forests of Roslavl (1816-1821) before moving to Optina of Deserts;
• St. Theoktist of Tver, who was former abbot of the Trinity Boldin Monastery before being consecrated bishop (late XVI — early XVII centuries).