OCU swaps its “metropolitans” in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi
Shostatskyi and Yurystyi will exchange eparchies. Photo: OCU
The OCU has decided to swap two of its ruling “bishops” in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi. On February 2, 2026, the synod of this structure announced that Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatskyi) will be transferred from Vinnytsia to Khmelnytskyi and will become “Metropolitan of Khmelnytskyi and Shepetivka, ruling the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy.” In turn, Pavlo Yurystyi will be transferred in the opposite direction and will serve as “Archbishop of Vinnytsia and Bar, ruling the Vinnytsia–Bar Eparchy.”
The OCU synod did not explain the reasons for this reshuffle.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU intends to issue an address to “believers and bishops dependent on the position of the Russian Orthodox Church.”
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