Moscow, Russia - The session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, opened on Thursday at the patriarchal residence in Chisty Pereulok in Moscow, has resolved to canonize 16 new zealots of Orthodoxy as Russia’s new martyrs and confessors who suffered for faith in the 20th century.
The Synodal resolution states that the facts about the new saints were submitted by the dioceses of Bryansk and Moscow and the Optina Monastic Hermitage.
The Synod also resolved that the names of these saints be sent to the primates of Local Orthodox Sister Churches to be included in their church calendars.
The list of the new martyrs and confessors includes 15 clergy and one lay woman.