A representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was ordained in the Moscow Theological Academy

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary Archbishop Mark of Vereya ordained a third-year seminary student Thomas Ditz deacon, who studies in the Moscow Theological school with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia who gave it in response to the petition of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR).

That was the first ordination of a representative of the ROCOR in the theological schools of the Moscow Patriarchate. This event has become possible in the context of dialogue between the Moscow Patriarchate and the ROCOR aimed at overcoming the division that occurred during tragic years of Russian church life in the 20th century.