The Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis is a structural body of the Russian Orthodox Church within the Nizhny Novgorod Region, established on 15 March 2012 by decree of the Holy Synod. It unites four eparchies: the Nizhny Novgorod, Vyksa, Gorodets, and Lyskovo eparchies. The head of the metropolis by virtue of his office is the ruling hierarch of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy — Metropolitan George), who has led it since 2 February 2003; he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan on 18 March 2012 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.[5]

History of Formation

The predecessor of the metropolis was established in 1934: in accordance with the Regulations on Regional Primates of 12 March 1934, the Provisional Patriarchal Holy Synod formed ecclesiastical regions, and The City of Gorky with its centre in Gorky. The exact date of its abolition is unknown; it is believed to have occurred in 1943 during the reorganisation of episcopal sees.[5]

On 15 March 2012, the Holy Synod separated the Vyksa, Gorodets, and Lyskovo eparchies from the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy and united them into the newly established Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis. In April 2012, bishops were appointed to the Gorodets and Vyksa eparchies, and in November 2013 to the Lyskovo Eparchy. In December 2013, the first vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy appeared — the Bishop of Balakhna; in July 2019, a second vicar was appointed — Bishop of Dalnekonstantinovo Filaret (Gusev); and in May 2022, a third vicar, Bishop of Sormovo Innokenty (Vasetsky). On 1 June 2012, the website of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy was transformed into the website of the metropolis, and on 30 November 2015 its current version appeared.[5]

Composition and Governance

The cathedral city of the metropolis is Nizhny Novgorod. The cathedral churches of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy are: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Word in Arzamas. The registered address of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy and its chancellery is 58 Suzdalskaya Street, Nizhny Novgorod.[1]

The territories of the eparchies cover the entire Nizhny Novgorod Region. The Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy includes the urban districts of Arzamas, Bor, Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, city of Sarov. The Vyksa Eparchy encompasses the Ardatovsky, Vachsky, Voznesensky, Vyksunsky, Pavlovsky, and other southern districts; its ruling hierarch is Bishop Gedeon (Gubka) (since 24 October 2024). The Gorodets Eparchy covers the northern districts of the region; its ruling hierarch is Bishop Paramon (Golubka) (since 24 August 2023). The Lyskovo Eparchy unites the eastern and southeastern districts; its ruling hierarch is Bishop Iosiya (Sidunov) (since 5 April 2026).[5] The distances from Nizhny Novgorod to the eparchal centres are: to Vyksa — 190 km, Gorodets, to Lyskovo — 90 km.[5]

As of 1 January 2025, the metropolis has 639 parishes, 811 churches, 673 clergy (including 6 bishops, 622 priests, and 45 deacons), and 18 monasteries.[5] The structure of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy includes the vicariate sees of Balakhna, Dalnekonstantinovo, and Sormovo.[1]

Media and Educational Activities

The metropolis publishes print media: the Gazette of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis, the journals Moya Nadezhda ("My Hope"), Damaskin, Nizhegorodskaya Starina ("Nizhny Novgorod Antiquity"), Nizhegorodsky Pravoslavny Listok ("Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox Leaflet"), as well as the children's publication Sasha i Dasha ("Sasha and Dasha"). The metropolis operates the Obraz television channel and radio station; the consolidated editorial office of the eparchy's media outlets — the Logos educational centre — is located at 10 Yarmarochny Proyezd, Nizhny Novgorod.[1][3] The Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy operates a pilgrimage centre at 30 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street.[1]

Each year in Nizhny Novgorod, with the blessing of Metropolitan George, the international Orthodox exhibition and fair "Nizhny Novgorod Region — Land of Serafim of Sarov" is held. In 2026, it took place for the 47th time at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair venue (6–12 August); the event was attended by more than 300 Orthodox and secular participants from Russia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Serbia, Syria, Ukraine, and Montenegro, as well as representatives of all four eparchies of the metropolis.[2]

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (ru) — Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis (archive)
  2. web.archive.org — Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis (archive)
  3. nne.ru — Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis
  4. eparchia.patriarchia.ru — The 47th International Orthodox Exhibition and Fair "Nizhny Novgorod Region — Land of Serafim of Sarov" Opens in Nizhny Novgorod — Patriarchia.ru
  5. egiv.ru (archive)