The Russian Orthodox Church is to set up in Ireland for the first time to cater for growing numbers of believers, a spokesman said today.
"We are making history. It will be an outpost of the church in the last European country before the ocean," said Father Michael Gogoleff, who is based in England but has been appointed dean of the church in Ireland.
He said they planned to open a church and school in Dublin, and to set up centres in the provincial cities of Cork and Limerick.
Fr Gogoleff said the church's Irish community was drawn from about 12 nations and was like a microcosm of the former Soviet Union.
Most are doctors, engineers and computer scientists working in Ireland.
"Last year I baptised 50 children and this year it is 34 so far. It is very much a living church and next year we hope to also open centres in Cork and Limerick," he added.
AFP