The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) consecrated a new bishop for the Russian-occupied territory of the Ukrainian region of Kherson, according to the “Nachrichtendienst Östliche Kirchen.” Russian Patriarch Kirill consecrated Archimandrite Iosif (Paschentsev) as the Bishop of Skadovsk and Oleschki on August 28, marking a direct institutional expansion into contested Ukrainian regions.
ROC Establishes Competing Structures in Occupied Ukraine
The Russian Orthodox Church created the Eparchie of Skadovsk in December 2023, setting up administrative frameworks that directly challenge the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to reporting from the “Nachrichtendienst Östliche Kirchen,” these new dioceses and episcopal appointments are established without any coordination with UOC leadership. While the UOC declared its independence from Moscow in May 2022 following the Russian invasion, Ukrainian authorities and public officials frequently accuse the church of maintaining clandestine ties to Russia.
Despite the UOC’s stated split, the Moscow Patriarchate continues to treat the Ukrainian body as an integral part of its own ecclesiastical structure. Patriarch Kirill exercises this claim by carving out new dioceses on recognized UOC territory and installing hand-picked Russian clergy. Bishop Iosif enters this role without any prior personal or professional connections to Ukraine, having been born in central Russian Tambov in 1964 and trained in Soviet military infrastructure.
Did you know? Bishop Iosif graduated from a Soviet military school and served in a specialized department of the Soviet Ministry of Defense tasked with nuclear weapons management before entering the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
Background of the Newly Appointed Bishop
The Holy Synod of the ROC elected Iosif to the occupied-territory post on July 16, as detailed by the “Nachrichtendienst Östliche Kirchen.” His background underscores the deep ties between state security history and senior clerical appointments within the Moscow Patriarchate. His lack of prior pastoral or administrative experience inside Ukraine highlights how external figures are deployed to manage ecclesiastical affairs in annexed territories.
In a separate development reported by the same outlet, the Bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia, Pavlo Honcharuk, extended a direct invitation to the Pope to visit Ukraine following an audience in Rome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who consecrated the new bishop for Kherson?
Russian Patriarch Kirill consecrated Archimandrite Iosif as the Bishop of Skadovsk and Oleschki on August 28.
Does the Ukrainian Orthodox Church coordinate with these appointments?
No. According to the “Nachrichtendienst Östliche Kirchen,” the ROC establishes these structures without any coordination with the UOC.
What is the status of the UOC regarding Moscow?
The UOC declared independence from Moscow in May 2022, though the Moscow Patriarchate officially views the UOC as part of its own structures.
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