About diocese

Irkutsk diocese compared with other dioceses in Russia

Irkutsk diocese is the largest in Russia and the world. Its area is 9,960,000 km². For comparison, the area of ​​Europe is; 10 180 000 km².

Every day, about 40 priests and about 80 sisters from around the world serve God and people. They come from America, Indonesia, India, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Italy. These are mainly monastic priests: Franciscans, Canonics, Carmelites, Claretins, Oblates, Salesians and Verbists, and about 25% are diocesan priests – “fidei donum”.