MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - The president of the Dominican Republic has signed an act to transfer a land plot to the republic's first Russian Orthodox Church parish, the foreign minister said Tuesday.

"The order to organize a land plot for the Russian Orthodox Church has been signed," Carlos Morales Troncoso said at a meeting with Church spokesman Metropolitan Hilarion.

Roman Catholicism is the state religion in the Dominican Republic, and is followed by 95% of the population.

The parish will be built in the republic's capital, Santo Domingo, where over 1,500 Russians live.

"Work to organize the parish started in May," Metropolitan Hilarion said. "People permanently residing in the Dominican Republic need spiritual guidance."