From October 12 to 18, Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk, interim administrator of the Patriarchal Deanery of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan, visited the Orthodox communities of the country. During the visit, His Eminence performed divine services, led a meeting of the clergy, and took part in the 12th Ashgabat Regional Christmas readings.
Divine services were held in the temples of Mary, Bayramali, Turkmenabad, Bezmein and Ashgabat. On October 14, Archbishop Theophylact celebrated the patronal feast of the Intercession Church in Mary. His Eminence also performed funeral services at Orthodox cemeteries, which the parishes of the deanery take care of jointly with local administrations.
Two consecrations were held during the visit. On October 16, at the church of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in Ashgabat, where all the clergy of the deanery gathered for the Liturgy, Archbishop Theophylact ordained Deacon Vladimir Ukhobotov, a fourth-year student at the Kazan Theological Seminary, to the rank of presbyter. On October 18, Azat Grigoryants, a third-year student at the same seminary, was ordained a deacon during the Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in the capital.
At a meeting of the clergy held on October 16 at the Patriarchal Spiritual and Educational Center, parish life, social and informational ministry were discussed. With the blessing of the dean of the deanery, it is planned to organize courses for assistant rectors on social media. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, film screenings and photo exhibitions about the Primate's ministry will be held in the parishes. The meeting participants also reviewed preparations for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchal Deanery, which will be celebrated in October 2027.
On the same day, the 12th Ashgabat Regional Christmas readings "The Christian Doctrine of Man and the Challenges of Modern Technology" were held at the Patriarchal Center. Archbishop Theophylact conveyed the blessing and greetings of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the participants. The participants were also addressed by the representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in Turkmenistan, Yulia Zaitseva, the First Counselor-Envoy of the Russian Embassy, Alexander Vasiliev, and the director of the Turkmen-Russian Pushkin School, Irina Kuminova. The work of the readings was continued by the speakers.
During the visit, Archbishop Theophylact met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Turkmenistan Ivan Volinkin. The parties discussed cooperation, including the preparation of the Christmas holidays and the holding of the Beauty of God's World contest.