The Diocese of Tambov (russian: Тамбовская епархия) is an

eparchy Eparchy ( gr, ἐπαρχία, la, eparchía / ''overlordship'') is an ecclesiastical unit in Eastern Christianity, that is equivalent to a diocese in Western Christianity. Eparchy is governed by an ''eparch'', who is a bishop. Depending on the ...

of the

Russian Orthodox Church , native_name_lang = ru , image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia , abbreviation = ROC , type ...

. It combines parishes and monasteries in the

Tambov Oblast Tambov Oblast (russian: Тамбо́вская о́бласть, ''Tambovskaya oblast'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Tambov. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 1,091,994. Ge ...

. The main church is the Transfiguration Cathedral.

History

The Tambov and Rasskazovskaya Diocese was founded in 1682 by decree of Tsar

Feodor III Fyodor III Alekséyevich (in Russian: ''Фёдор III Алексеевич'') or Feodor III Alekséyevich (9 June 1661 – 7 May 1682) was the Tsar of Russia between 1676 and 1682. While disabled and paralyzed from birth, he managed to pass ref ...

and the Patriarch Joachim. Originally, the diocese included the city of Tambov as well as Kozlov and

Borisoglebsk Borisoglebsk (russian: Борисогле́бск) is a town in Voronezh Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vorona River near its confluence with the Khopyor. Population: 65,000 (1969). History Borisoglebsk was founded in 16 ...

. In 1699, the diocese was closed and placed under the jurisdiction of the Ryazan diocese from 1720 - Voronezh diocese, and since 1723, the Moscow Synodal Office. Managing such a distant diocese through the Moscow Synod office was difficult, so again the question arose of placing a local bishop in charge. The Tambov and Rasskazovo Diocese was closed because the poor people of Tambov destroyed most of the facility. In 1758, by decree of Empress

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

, the diocese was restored. In addition to Tambov and Kozlov, the diocese included Dobry, Kerensky Narovchatov Upper and Lower Lomov and

Troitsk Troitsk (russian: Троицк) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia. Modern localities ;Urban localities *Troitsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, a town in Chelyabinsk Oblast; *Troitsk, Moscow, a town in Troitsk Settlement of Troitsky Adm ...

. In 1764, the diocese added the city of

Penza Penza ( rus, Пе́нза, p=ˈpʲɛnzə) is the largest city and administrative center of Penza Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Sura River, southeast of Moscow. As of the 2010 Census, Penza had a population of 517,311, making it the 38th-la ...

, In SAR, Moksha. In 1779, the city added:

Saransk Saransk (russian: Саранск, p=sɐˈransk; mdf, Саранск ошсь, Saransk oš; myv, Саран ош, Saran oš) is the capital city of the Republic of Mordovia, Russia, as well as its financial and economic centre. It is located ...

Morshansk Morshansk (russian: Морша́нск) is a town in Tambov Oblast, Russia, located on the Tsna River (Oka's basin) north of Tambov. Population: 44,000 (1970). History The exact origins of Morshansk are unknown; however, documents mention ...

, Kirsanov,

Ranenburg Chaplygin (russian: Чаплы́гин) is a town and the administrative center of Chaplyginsky District in Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Stanovaya Ryasa and Yagodnaya Ryasa Rivers, north of Lipetsk, the administra ...

Serdobsk Serdobsk (russian: Сердо́бск) is a town and the administrative center of Serdobsky District in Penza Oblast, Russia. Population: Geography It is located on the Serdoba River (Don's basin), southeast of Penza. Climate The climate ...

and Chembar. The final borders of the diocese were established in 1803. Since then, it has not come out of the administrative boundaries of the Tambov province, approved in 1796. At the end of 1930, no active parish operated in Tambov. Restoring the diocese began in October 1943, when the first church was re-opened. {{Russian Orthodox Churchhttps://orthodox-world.org/en/i/27285/Russian-Federation/Tambov/Tambov/Church/New-Martyrs-of-Russia-Orthodox-Church Eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church