On the inadmissibility of pilgrims’ participation in services at the New Athos Monastery in Abkhaziatranslated

Dear brothers and sisters!

We inform you that for schismatic actions on the territory of Abkhazia, on the basis of the decision of the diocesan church court of the Maykop diocese dated May 23, 2023, approved by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' KIRILL, the former hieromonk Dorotheos (Dbar) was defrocked on October 27, 2023. Despite this, the monk Dorotheos (Dbar) continues to perform divine services in the New Athos Monastery of the Holy Apostle Simon the Canaanite (Abkhazia).

There have also been cases of participation of Orthodox pilgrims from dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church visiting the New Athos Monastery in the services that take place there. Often, out of ignorance, pilgrims begin confession and communion there.

In this regard, pilgrims should be informed about the inadmissibility of prayerful and Eucharistic communion with the monk Dorotheos (Dbar) and the lack of grace of the sacred rites performed in the schism.