Cascais, Portugal, February 14, 2018
Photo: https://cerkov-ru.eu Communities of Russian Orthodox believers living in Portugal have been given territory for liturgical usage for the second time in less than a month. A large plot of land in the resort area of the city of Cascais, near the capital city of Lisbon, has been leased to the Moscow Patriarchate, which is planning to build a church and parish community buildings, reports the site of the Diocese of Korsun of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Diocese of Korsun ministers to Russian Orthodox parishes, monasteries, and communities in France, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland.
An agreement on the long-term free leasing of a Catholic church in central Lisbon to the local Russian Orthodox community was signed in late January by His Grace Bishop Nestor of Korsun and the Patriarch of Lisbon Cardinal Manuel Jose Clemente.
Bp. Nestor returned to Portugal for another pastoral visit from February 9-11, holding a number of important meetings during his stay, and celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the city of Faro.
On Friday, February 9, His Grace arrived at the city hall of one of the largest resort areas in Portugal, in the city of Cascais, where a meeting was held with Mayor Carlos Carreiras. At the end of the meeting, an agreement was signed according to which the Russian Orthodox Church was given a large plot of land (more than 16 acres) for 50-years’ use. The Church is planning to build a church and community buildings on the plot.
The bishop visited other parishes and communities under his care during the remainder of his pastoral visit to Portugal.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church also recently opened two parishes in Portugal within two months.
