ROC Synod appoints “new administrator of the Crimean Metropolis”

Metropolitan Lazar. Photo: crimea-eparhia.ru

On October 11, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church appointed a “new administrator of the Crimean Metropolis,” the Patriarchia.ru website reports.

The ROC Synod retired Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea “with an expression of gratitude for his archpastoral labors borne over the course of 43 years.”

His place of residence in retirement was left to the discretion of Metropolitan Lazar, “with financial support from the Simferopol Diocesan Administration.”

Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov was appointed head of the Crimean Metropolis “with his release from administration of the Pskov Metropolis and an expression of gratitude for the labors he has borne.”

As a reminder, on June 7, 2022, the ROC Synod transferred the Crimean eparchies of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into “subordination to the Patriarch,” after which they were “united into a metropolis.” The UOC did not recognize this decision.

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