Representative office of the World Union of Old Believers opened in Rome

On the day of Orthodox Christmas in the capital of Italy, next to the Villa Borghese park, the office of the World Union of Old Believers was opened. According to Interfax, a foreign representative office in its status will be equivalent to a Moscow one; it will be busy supporting Old Believers living outside their historical homeland.

The head of the World Union of Old Believers Leonid Sevastyanov notes that many Old Believers have settled abroad and, in particular, in Italy - at the same time, there is only one church for them in this country, in the city of Turin. However, recently, with the support of Pope Francis, the Old Believers achieved the provision of one more room for a temple - in the historical part of Rome.

The World Union of Old Believers was registered in 2019 to protect and help Old Believers living all over the planet. In relation to the supporters of the 'old faith', according to Leonid Sevastyanov, 'a certain inertia' still persists in society. Therefore, the organization will contribute to the resolution of conflicts with the authorities of different countries, the preparation of the necessary documents, the implementation of educational initiatives, and obtaining permits for the construction of churches. and houses of prayer.

Today there are about two million Orthodox Old Believers living in the world. Two hundred Old Believer churches operate in Russia, and about sixty more - on the territory of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.