« To the attention of pilgrims from the Russian Orthodox Church traveling to Greece »
03-01-2023 
In 2018, as a result of the recognition by the Patriarchate of Constantinople of schismatic communities in Ukraine and the establishment of communion with them, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church stated the impossibility of "continuing Eucharistic communion with its hierarchs, clergy and laity. For all clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is impossible to co-serve with the clerics of the Church of Constantinople, and for the laity - to participate in the sacraments performed in its churches" (Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of October 15, 2018).
In 2019, the Russian Orthodox Church, with deep sorrow, was forced to terminate "prayerful and Eucharistic communion with those bishops of the Church of Greece who have entered into or will enter into such communion with representatives of the Ukrainian non-canonical schismatic communities" (Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of October 17, 2019). In accordance with this Holy Synod decision, faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church are not blessed to attend the following dioceses of the Church of Greece:
1. Athens, headed by Archbishop Hieronymus II of Athens and All Hellas, whose direct subordination includes the following districts of the Greek capital: the center of Athens, Ano Petralona, Koukaki, Kato Petralona, Tavros, Kerameikos, Votanikos, the Academy of Platonas, Kolokinthos, Skouse, Aharne, Patisia, Sepolia, Kato Patissia, Ano Patisia, Galanchi, Kipseli, Kuzi, Ambelokipi, Gudi, Zografou, Pankrati, Ilisos, Agios Dimitrios, Ilioupoli, Kallithea, Moschato, Dzinzifies, Papagu, Psychiko, Halandri, Vrilissia, Holargos, Agia Paraskevi, Kato Halandri. The most famous and largest churches of the Archdiocese of Athens are the Annunciation Cathedral, the Church of St. Dionysius the Areopagite and the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon Acharnon.
These restrictions do not apply to dioceses, which include the outskirts and suburbs of Athens and the whole region of Attica. These include the metropolises of Piraeus, Mesogean, Ili, Peristeria, Cythyra, Neosmyrna, Cythysia, Caesaria, Glyfada, Nicaea, Megara, Hydra and Philadelphia.
2. Verian (Veria), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naus and Campania.
3. Artan (Arta), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Callinicus of Arta.
4. Trikkian (Trikkala), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikkala and Stagon.
5. Dimitriadian (Volos), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetriad and Almir.
6. Phocis (Amthyssa), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Theoktistus of Phocis.
7. Zakynthos (island Zakynthos), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Dionysius of Zakynthos and Strofad.
8. Kitra (Katerini), ruling bishop is Metropolitan George of Kitra and Katerini.
9. Xanthian (Xanthy), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthy.
10. Edessian (Edessa), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Joel of Edessa and Pella.
11. Grevenian (Grevena), ruling bishop is Metropolitan David of Grevena.
12. Maronian (Komotini), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maronia and Komotini.
13. Philippian (Kavala), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Stephen of Philippi, Naples and Thassos.
14. Didymotychian (Didymotichon), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Damascene of Didymotychon, Orestiad and Suflia.
15. Kastorian (Kastoria), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Kalinnik of Kastoria.
16. Elevferupolian (Elevferupolis), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Chrysostom of Elefferupolis.
17. Thessaliotis (Karditsa), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Timothy of Thessaliotis and Phanariofersal.
18. Stagonian (Kalambaka), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Theoclitus of Stagon and Meteora.
19. Nea-Krinian (Thessaloniki), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Justin of Nea-Krini and Kalamari.
It is also not blessed to visit all the dioceses of the Patriarchate of Constantinople for pilgrimage purposes, including on the territory of Greece - on the Dodecanese and Cyclades Islands, as well as on the island of Crete:
1) Rhodes (island Rhodes), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Cyril of Rhodes.
2) Kos (Kos Island, Nisyros Island), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Nathanael of Kos and Nisyros.
3) Leros (Leros Island, Kalymnos Island, Astypalea Island), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Paisius of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalea.
4) Karpathos (Karpathos Island, Kasos Island), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Ambrose of Karpathos and Kasos.
5) Simi (islands Simi, Tilos, Halki, Fr. Kastellorizon), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Simi, Tilos, Halci and Kastellorizon.
6) Crete (Heraklion), ruling bishop is Archbishop Eugene of Crete.
7) Gortyna (Gortyna), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Macarius of Gortyna and Arcadia.
8) Rethymno (Rethymno), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Prodrom of Rethymno and Aulopotam.
9) Kydonia (Chania), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Damascene of Kydonia and Apokron.
10) Lambis (village Spili), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Irenaeus of Lambis, Sivrit and Sfakia.
11) Hierapetra (Hierapetra), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Cyril of Hierapetra and Sitia.
12) Petra (Napoli), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Herronis.
13) Kissamos (Kissamos), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Amphilochius of Kissamos and Selina.
14) Arkalochorion (Arkalochorion), ruling bishop is Metropolitan Andrew of Arkalochorion, Kastellia and Vianna.