Kurgan eparchy, governed by his Grace Mikhail, the Kurgan and Shadrinsk bishop, is one of the newest in Russian Orthodox Church. As an independent church unit it exists for more than 6 years, but the spiritual life in the Transurals counts centuries.

On the territory
of Kurgan eparchy there is an ancient Sviato-Uspensky Dalmatov men's monastery. This is a spiritual and cultural pearl of our region. Unfortunately, it was partially destroyed and today neither Federal Government, nor the local authorities, nor, certainly, the Church has no means to reconstruct it. The collapsing monastery buildings need immediate conservation, or we shall loose our Transurals Relic forever. Women's Vvedensky monastery in the village of V. Techa is opened again. Besides, on the territory of Kurgan eparchy there are 63 congregations of Russian Orthodox Church. Recently one of Kurgan eparchy temples, namely the Chimeevo temple in honor of the Kazan Virgin icon, has become one of the spiritual centers not only of the Transurals, but also of the whole Ural region and Western Siberia. The wonder making icon attracts pilgrims from not only Kurgan region, but also from Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and even from far Australia.

The clergy of Kurgan
eparchy consists of 54 priests and 10 deacons. Many priests have higher religious or secular education, that certainly helps them in versatile pastor activity. In Kurgan eparchy management there are a number of departments:

• department of religious education, which main goal is development of church-parish school system,
• missionary department, which spreads Christian religious doctrine outside the temple,
• departments on interaction with armed forces, law enforcement bodies and work in jails.

It is pleasant to notice,
that managers of different levels frequently understand us, and our clergymen are frequently invited to High Schools, schools, hospitals, to meetings with labor collectives of different enterprises and offices. Especially I'd like to mention the activity of editorial board of the eparchy magazine “Zvonnitsa”, which Kurganers and inhabitants of Kurgan region like very much. The important role in the successful activity of Eparchy Management and eparchy departments play the agreements concluded with the Government of Kurgan region, and also with other departments and authority structures.

Kurgan eparchy
of Russian Orthodox Church establishes its activity on the basis of the Law “On a liberty of conscience and religious associations”. According to this Law, the fundamentals of religious doctrine and practice of Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchy) orthodox religious organizations can be formulated in the following way:

1. Russian Orthodox Church executes its activity on the basis of the Holy Scripture (the Bible – Old and New Testaments) and the Holy tradition, canons and rules of the holy apostles, Holy Ecumenical, Councils of holy fathers, orders of our local Councils, Canonical charter on Russian Orthodox Church management, respecting and observing the state laws.
   
   The Christianity appeared in the 1 century as a religion of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who declared himself to be the true God and the true Man, their Creator and Judge. The Orthodox Christian Church began its official historical existence on the Russian territory in 988, when Russia was baptized in Kiev.
2. Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchy) is a hierarchic centralized orthodox Russian religious organization, which executes its activity in accordance with the Orders of Councils, Canonical charter on Russian Orthodox Church management, decisions of the Holy Synod, Decrees of Patriarch Moscow and all Russia, in compliance with the Russian Federation law.
   
   Russian Orthodox Church executes its activity of spreading orthodox Christian faith, caring about religious and moral charge, educating and enlightening parishioners in the spirit of devotion to orthodox faith, performing the duties of charity and mercy. These activities are realized through Russian Orthodox Church liturgies, sacraments, rites, procession, ceremonies, religious education, pilgrimage and charity. Russian Orthodox Church recognizes marriage between people of different sex and family, as a God given institute, which aim is a blessed birth and bringing-up of children, and which serves for man's good. The orthodox religious doctrine approves the family harmony of the marital partners and children, mutual care and support, healthy way of life.
3. The Orthodoxy does not create for Russian Orthodox Church members and priests any limitations of the civil rights and duties.
   
   The orthodox religion recognizes temporal education in the forms, anticipated by the local law, creates religious educational institutions (of professional religious education) to train clergymen, church workers, theologians to serve Russian Orthodox Church and to spread the orthodox faith.
   
   
4. Russian Orthodox Church creates its own orthodox educational institutions for children and adults, and also conducts religious education of children, who study in state and municipal educational institutions in the order, determined by the law.
   
   Russian Orthodox Church considers human life and health to be a sacred God's gift, which should be saved and increased. Russian Orthodox Church declares to provide medical care to any person in conditions, dangerous for life and health.
   
   
5. Drugs, psychotropic substances and hypnosis are excluded from the religious activity of Russian Orthodox Church , as well as immoral and wrongful acts.
   
   
6. Religious doctrine and discipline of Russian Orthodox Church do not violate the fundamentals of the constitutional system, morality, health, rights and legitimate interests of the person and the citizen, ensuring national defense and safety of the state. The orthodox religion is not against military service.