On January 14, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. The Belarusian Orthodox Church is considering the possibility of establishing the Orsha Diocese. Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha has submitted a corresponding report to Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, the Belarusian Exarchate informed BelTA. "The need to divide the diocese (into Vitebsk and Orsha. - BelTA note) is driven by the necessity to intensify missionary, charitable, youth, catechetical, and parish activities," Archbishop Dmitry noted in his report. He added that the establishment of a new diocese with its centre in Orsha would improve parish and educational activities. As of early 2012, the current Vitebsk Diocese of the BOC comprises 175 parishes (20 deaneries), 6 monasteries, a theological seminary, and a theological school. It is proposed to include the Orsha, Dubrovno, Senno, Tolochin, and Chashniki districts of the Vitebsk region in the Orsha Diocese. Thus, 41 parishes served by 56 clergy, as well as 4 monasteries with 21 monastics, will be transferred from the Vitebsk Diocese to the new one. According to the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), under whose jurisdiction the BOC falls, decisions on the establishment or abolition of dioceses within an Exarchate, and on defining their territorial boundaries, are made by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and the Holy Synod (ROC) upon the proposal of the Synod of the Exarchate (BOC), with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops. The report by Archbishop Dmitry has already been heard by the Holy Synod of the BOC. The Belarusian episcopate has resolved that the issue of establishing the Orsha Diocese needs to be studied by the Exarchate's Administration Department. To this end, visits will be made to the districts intended to be part of the new diocese. Most likely, the districts will be visited by Archbishop Guriy of Novogrudok and Lida, who was recently appointed Head of the BOC Administration Department. The Administration Department has also been instructed to send written inquiries to all ruling bishops of the BOC to study their opinions regarding the restructuring of the dioceses entrusted to their care, with the aim of intensifying church and parish life. At its next meeting, the Synod of the BOC will be presented with the results of the Administration Department's work concerning the establishment of new dioceses within the Exarchate. Furthermore, the Synod expressed gratitude to Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha for his efforts in improving church life in the Vitebsk region. -0-

BELTA