The Russian authorities continue the forceful integration of the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate) in the occupied Zaporizhia region into the Russian Orthodox Church, demonstrating the ROC’s inextricable connection with the Russian state.
This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War.
Vladimir Rogov, the Russian puppet official installed in Zaporizhia region, claimed that the Russian bishop Luka conducted the first liturgy for the Russian Orthodox Church in the Berdiansk Cathedral. The Russian Orthodox Church took control of the cathedral on May 16.
Rogov stated that the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), appointed Bishop Luka as the administrator of the Berdiansk and Prymorye dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Berdyansk and Primorye dioceses were formerly part of the UOC (MP), and their forced integration with the Russian Orthodox Church emphasizes the close connection between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state.
