New Russian Orthodox Parish Approved for Abu Dhabi's Growing Faithful
A new Russian Orthodox parish will open in Abu Dhabi after receiving approval from Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. The initiative came from Russian-speaking believers living in the city, who pushed for a dedicated place of worship. The parish will be named after the Icon of the Kazanskaya Mother of God.
The decision to establish the parish was formally granted on January 17, 2026. Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Church of the Holy Apostle Philip in Sharjah, will oversee the new community in Abu Dhabi.
No official timeline has been set for constructing the church building. The project follows a request from local Russian-speaking residents who sought a permanent spiritual home in the UAE capital.
The parish will serve Russian Orthodox Christians in Abu Dhabi under the guidance of the Antiochian Patriarchate. While plans for the church's construction remain undetermined, the community now has official recognition. Archimandrite Alexander will lead the congregation once it begins operations.
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