ROC conducts episcopal reshuffles in occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia

ROC Synod. Photo: Moscow Patriarchate

On May 15, 2025, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made a decision to appoint a new bishop for the occupied territory encompassing the Berdiansk and Zaporizhzhia Eparchies.

According to Journal No. 30, Bishop Theodor, who was appointed in March 2024 as “Bishop of Berdiansk and Prymorsk,” was removed from his post and transferred to the Pokrovsk Eparchy of the Saratov Metropolis.

He was replaced by the former Bishop of Zlatoust, Peter. Like his predecessor, Bishop Peter will also be tasked with “temporarily overseeing the parishes and monasteries of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy in the territories of the Veselivka, Kamianka-Dniprovska, Melitopol, and Mykhailivka districts, as well as the cities of Melitopol and Enerhodar.”

Earlier, the UOJ analyzed the legality of the ROC’s decisions to appoint bishops on the canonical territory of the UOC, and examined the situation concerning the Berdainsk Eparchy.

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