Moscow, on August 10, Interfax – Archimandrite German (Chesnokov), who was a monk at the Holy Trinity Lavra for many years, died after a long illness caused by coronavirus, the Lavra said on its website. Father German was the most prominent exorcist of the Russian Church. For many years, he was father superior of the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, the metochion of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St Sergius in Sergiyev Posad, where he performed a special exorcism ritual every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Father German was 78.

Pope Francis, with a Rescriptum published by the Vatican Press Office, has extended the jurisdiction of the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs over the entire Arabian Peninsula, which includes the Apostolic Vicariates of Northern and Southern Arabia. The latest announcement – fruit of careful evaluation by the Pope and the appropriate Dicasteries of the Roman Curia –  is in response to requests made by the Patriarchs and Apostolic Vicars of Northern and Southern Arabia, in view of the greater spiritual good of the faithful, as well as the historical prerogatives of their jurisdiction over the territory.