At the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, held on 28 December 2018 at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in the Danilov monastery in Moscow, the Synod members discussed the state of Church Affairs in Western Europe (journal No. 105) and in South-East Asia (issue No. 106), according to patriarhiei.
It was decided to form a Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe centered in Paris. In the pastoral responsibility of the Exarchate included the following countries: Andorra, Kingdom of Belgium, the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Kingdom of Spain, the Italian Republic, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality Monaco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Portuguese Republic, Republic of France, the Swiss Confederation.
The head of the Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe was appointed the Bishop of Bogorodsky John with the title of “Korsun and Western”. Bishop John appointed by the ruling Bishop of the diocese of Korsun with the preservation of temporary administration of the Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Italy.
The Synod also decided to form a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Spain and Portugal with its centre in Madrid. The diocesan Bishop of the Spanish-Portuguese diocese, with the title “Madrid and Lisbon” appointed Bishop Nestor of Korsun.
Due to the significant success of the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in the countries of South-East Asia, reflected in the multiplication of churches and communities, the emergence of the clergy from among the local population, increase interest in Russian Orthodoxy and in connection with the increase in the Russian-speaking population, on a permanent or temporary basis living in the countries of this region, it was decided to form a Patriarchal Exarchate in South-East Asia center in Singapore.
In the sphere of pastoral responsibility specified of the Exarchate included the following countries: the Republic of Singapore, socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Democratic people’s Republic, Republic of Korea, Lao people’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Philippines, Kingdom of Thailand.
The head of the Patriarchal Exarchate in Southeast Asia with the title “Singapore and South-East Asian” appointed Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, with the temporary abandonment of his post of head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate.