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Moscow Patriarchate Plants Flag in Abu Dhabi With New Orthodox Parish
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Russian Orthodox Church has begun establishing a parish in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The decision was approved on March 12 session of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate in Moscow.
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The statement on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate declared that the move followed an appeal from Russian-speaking Orthodox believers living in Abu Dhabi.
The Moscow Patriarchate’s statement also noted that the parish was established with the consent of Patriarch John X of Antioch, whose church holds jurisdiction in the region.
A separate assessment published by Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation described the initiative as part of the Russian Orthodox Church’s broader expansion abroad.
The center argued that the church’s international activity can function not only as religious outreach, but also as an instrument of Russian influence overseas.
The development follows broader efforts by the Russian Orthodox Church to expand its institutional presence abroad.
Russia’s Orthodox Church has extended its African presence from a handful of countries to dozens, establishing parishes and clerical structures as part of a wider overseas push.
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation linked the growth to Kremlin influence operations, stating that church networks can amplify pro-Russian narratives, cultivate local elites, and provide cover for political outreach.
The agency remarked that the church’s Africa exarchate has accelerated ordinations, outreach programs, and media activity, framing it as “missionary work.”
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