A recent report of the Holy Synod of Moscow proves the continued existence of deaconesses in the Russian Orthodox Church.

Holy Synod, Moscow, 11 April 2006.

Item No. 8

Issue: Report by Juvenalius, Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomenskoye, concerning the situation on the Borodinskiy convent in the village of Semenovskoye, and the Kolotskoye Dormition convent in the village of Kolotskoye, both in the Mozhaysk area, Moscow region.

Decision:

1. Hegumeness Rachel (Raish) shall be freed from the position of the Mother Superior of the Borodinskiy convent in the village of Semenovskoye, Mozhaysk area, Moscow region. Nun Philareta (Grechina), of the Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichiy convent in Moscow shall be appointed Mother Superior of this convent and given a pectoral cross according to her station.

2. Nun Seraphima (Shumeyko) shall be freed from the position of the Mother Superior of the Kolotskoye Dormition convent in the village of Kolotskoye, the Mozhaysk area, Moscow region. Nun Ambrosia (Gavrineva), Deaconess of the convent, shall be appointed Mother Superior of this convent and given a pectoral cross according to her station.

source: http://eng.sedmitza.ru/index.html?did=1906