Photo exhibition to be dedicated to the history of Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan
At the end of January, Archbishop Pyatigorsky and Circassian Feofilakt, temporarily managing the Patriarchal Deanery of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan, traveled to the country's parishes. During the trip, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Michael's Church in Turkmenbashi, and in the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Balkanabat. At the end of the service, the bishop got acquainted with the work of the recently created youth center, where young people were told about the Russian language, Russian literature and culture. Many churches of Turkmenistan have popular libraries, in which classical works of Russian and world literature are in great demand. Archbishop Feofilakt also performed the Divine Liturgy in Alexandro-Nevsky and in the St. Nicholas Church in Ashgabat, as well as presented medals to the clergy and laity in honor of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate. "It is especially joyful for me to fulfill the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and impose on the clergymen and laity the signs of special attention of His Holiness," said Archbishop Feofilakt. "The primate of the Russian Church cares about its flock in Turkmenistan with love, care and prayer." It was decided to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the appointment of Archbishop Feofilakt to the post of temporary administrator of the Patriarchal Deanery of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan in fall 2018. In connection with this, a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan will be organized, and a solemn meeting will be held. Archbishop Feofilakt together with representatives of the clergy visited the State Museum of Turkmenistan, where the guests were told that in the 4th century the Christian sermon was sounded and monasteries and temples were built in ancient Merv. In addition, the meeting of the archpastor with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan A. Blokhin was held, discussing the participation of parishes in various projects in the humanitarian sphere. The patriarchal deanery of the parishes of the ROC in Turkmenistan was formed on October 12, 2007. Currently, 12 Orthodox churches operate on the territory of the country.
