On 19 May 2021, the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania, during his visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, met the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John H. The meeting of the President of Abkhazia with the Patriarch of Antioch caused some discontent among the clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The abbot of the New Athos Monastery, Hierodeacon Ab David (Sarsaniya), answers the questions

  From year to year a significant problem has existed in relation to the historical and sacred places of our country, it is the state of tourists who attend the New Athos Monastery, bringing by tour operators. As a rule, due to the limited time for an excursion tour around Abkhazia, they try to take tourists to all possible places, but they also do not forget about the “cultural” program

In the north-west side of the New Athos Monastery, there is a one-story wing in the utility yard. The wing is made of limestone, the internal partitions are made of bricks of the monastery firing. The roof was originally covered with tiles made in Marseilles (in Soviet times, the tiles were partially destroyed). Since 1994 after the revival of monastic life in the New Athos monastery, this wing has been

3 July, Saturday: 17.00 – Vespers, Confession 4 July, Sunday of All Saints of the Orthodox Church of Abkhazia. 7.00 – Matins 9.00 – Divine Liturgy 6 July, Tuesday: 17.00 – Vespers 7 July, Wednesday: Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Martyr Orentius and his six brothers 10.00 – Holy water prayer service, litany (procession with the icon) and Artoklasia in the skete of St. John the Baptist in the

On 8 June 2021, the first meeting of the Council of the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia took place in New Athos. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Council of HMA, Archimandrite Dorotheos (Dbar), Hierodeacon David (Sarsaniya), Arda Ashuba, Ruslan Pandaria, Omar Trapsh, Dionysus Yalanchidi, Alkhas Tkhagushev (communication via telegram), as well as members of the Council with an advisory capacity – Akhra Argun and Temur Dzidzaria. 4

5 June, Saturday: 17.00 – Vespers 6 June, 6th Sunday after Easter: 7.00 – Matins 9.00 – Divine Liturgy 9 June, Wednesday, Afterfeast: 7.00 – Matins 8.30 – Divine Liturgy 17.00 – Great Vespers with Litany, Confession 10 June, Thursday, Ascension of the Lord: 7.00 – Matins 9.00 – Divine Liturgy 12 June, Saturday: 17.00 – Vespers 13 June, 7th Sunday after Easter: Holy Fathers of the First Holy Council

According to the Moscow Abkhaz Diaspora, Mushni Lasuria became a laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Prize named after Saints Cyril and Methodius. On 20 May, a solemn ceremony of electing and awarding the laureates of the 10th anniversary season of the Patriarchal Literary Prize took place in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. People’s poet of Abkhazia Mushni Lasuria became the laureate of the

On 23 May, 2021 in the New Athos Monastery, the memory day of the holy Apostle Simon the Canaanite, the enlightener of Abkhazia, was celebrated. On this day, the Divine Liturgy was served at the monastery, the divine service was led by the chairman of the Council of the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia, Archimandrite Dorotheos (Dbar). After the liturgy, the flock and pilgrims of the monastery took part in the

  On 19 May, President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania, who is on an official visit to Syria, met with the Patriarch of Antioch and all East, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, John X, reports the correspondent of Apsnypress from Damascus. “We have been watching your visit and your meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. Your arrival is a great honor for us. We wish your state, church and people

4 May, Tuesday of the Bright Week: Icon of the Mother of God “Vratarnitsa” (Portaitissa, the Iverian icon as well) 7.00 – Matins 8.30 – Divine Liturgy. Litany (procession) with the “Vratarnitsa” icon on Mount Anakopia (New Athos). 6 May, Thursday of the Bright Week: of St. George (Аиергь–ныҳәа) 07.00 – Matins (in the church of St. Andrew the Apostle) 08.30 – Liturgy (in the upper part of the Cathedral

On 1-2 May 2021, a solemn Easter service was held at the New Athos Monastery. On the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the flock of the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia gathered in the cathedral of St. Panteleimon, as well as pilgrims from Russia. The service was traditionally held in three languages. In the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Dorotheos (Dbar) wished everyone Happy Easter.

Holy Week and Easter: 28 April: Holy Wednesday 18.00 – Sacrament of Anointing of the sick, Confession 29 April: Holy Thursday(Чачхады́л). Memories of the Last Supper 10.00 – Holy Vespers with Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 18.00 – Matins with reading of 12 Passion Gospels 30 April: Holy Friday 10.00 – Canonical hours 14.00 – Vespers and presentation of shroud 18.00 – Matins and procession with the shroud around