Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) reassigned to serve in Brazil
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev). Photo: TASS
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ has reassigned Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) to serve in the Argentine and South American Eparchy. The corresponding decree was published on June 3, 2026, on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to the document, Metropolitan Hilarion’s place of ministry has been designated as two parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Brazil: the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Santa Rosa and the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Campina das Missões.
The decree states that the decision was made because it was no longer possible to implement the Holy Synod’s resolution of December 27, 2024, which had assigned the hierarch to the Church of the Chief Apostles Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, Czechia.
As the UOJ reported, on May 27, 2026, Metropolitan Hilarion announced his departure from Czechia after a high-profile detention. According to Czech media, police action followed the discovery of containers with a white substance in the hierarch’s car. He was later released without charges, bail, or travel restrictions. The metropolitan called the incident a provocation and rejected all allegations against him.
Read also
Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms
Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.
432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says
According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.
Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations
The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.
Concert held at seized Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU thanked the musical ensemble for choosing the Cherkasy cathedral as the venue for a Baroque music concert.
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.