“Autocephalous Church of Belarus” leader claims backing from Constantinople

Svjatoslav Login, head of the “Autocephalous Church of Belarus” in the USA. Photo: Romfea

In an interview given on September 3, 2025, to the Ukrainian television channel VICE, Login declared that he expects his organization to be recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Romfea reports that Login recounted his audience with Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople: “The Patriarch received us warmly. When the subject of future autocephaly was raised, he told us to wait, but to prepare ourselves for recognition to come.”

Login further insisted that the jurisdiction of his group should be “exclusive” within Belarus, noting that during its services the Ecumenical Patriarch is commemorated, but not the Russian Orthodox Church.

He did not stop there: mixing ecclesiastical claims with political slogans, Login branded President Alexander Lukashenko a “dictator,” urged Belarusians to resist, and declared his intention to establish “Belarusian authority” upon his return to the homeland.

The so-called “Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Belarus” was established in the United States in 2008, grouping together several parishes in the USA, Canada, and Australia. It is not recognized by any Local Orthodox Church. Svjatoslav Login himself was born and raised in Ukraine and studied at the Kyiv Theological Seminary of the former UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate (led by Filaret Denysenko – Ed.).

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Bartholomew had raised the idea of changing the date of Pascha in pursuit of dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church.

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