700 ABOUT ORTHODOX FAMILIES RESIDENT IN ABU DABI AT THE PRESENT TIME, BUT UNDER THE INFORMATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUTURE TEMPLE OF PRIEST STEPHAN NEIMEHEH IN THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, DO NOT DRINK. Orthodox church of st. Nicholas, which is currently used by the Orthodox community in Mussafah, is very small and can accommodate only about 300 people. People are forced to participate in church services, being outside the church premises or in the neighboring building, where a screen broadcasting the worship is installed, reports Sedmitsa.
“During Easter and Christmas, we never have enough space,” complains Father Stefan Neimeh. The building where the church of St. Nicholas, was built in 1975. The parish is under the jurisdiction of the Baghdad diocese of the Antioch Orthodox Church and currently unites Orthodox believers of seven Arab nationalities (Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese, etc.). Among the parishioners there are also Romanians, Russian Ukrainians, Serbs and Georgians. "If they want to pray, we provide them with a church for services with their own priest," said Father Stefan Naeymeh.
The new church in honor of the holy Prophet of God Elijah will be able to accommodate a total of 1250 parishioners. Its construction began in May last and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
