The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church “occupied” the Berdyansk Diocese of the UOC (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate), which considers itself “independent in governance.”
As reported on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church, this decision was made allegedly due to the abandonment of the diocese by Metropolitan Yefrem of Berdyansk and Primorsk.
Now the diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has come under the direct authority of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This is another example of the expanding influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the occupied territories, further limiting the few rights that the UOC (MP) had.
The UOC (MP) considers itself “independent in governance”. Now it turns out that from an “independent Church” the ROC Synod can at any moment steal an entire diocese alongside with priests, parishes, and parishioners just because the bishop of an “independent” Church left the diocese.
It is characteristic that the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church feels a special power wherever the boot of the Russian occupier has stepped.
It should be recalled that on October 13, 2022, the Russian Orthodox Church, by the decision of its Synod, illegally occupied the Rovenki Diocese of the UOC MP, which is based in Luhansk region.
