ROC Synod dismisses Metropolitan Hilarion as head of DECR MP

By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which met in Moscow on June 6 2022, under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk no longer heads the Synodal Department for External Church Relations, reports patriarchia.ru.

His Eminence will also no longer serve as a permanent member of the Holy Synod or as the rector of the Church’s Sts. Cyril and Methodius Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies program. 

According to the Synodal resolutions, Met. Hilarion is being sent to administer the Diocese of Budapest and Hungary, a position he previously held from May 2003 to March 2009.

Met. Hilarion is replaced in the DECR and on the Holy Synod by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun, the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Church’s Educational Committee, is appointed rector of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius program.

As reported, according to the ROC Synod's resolution, only the Local Council of the Russian Church can change the status of the UOC.

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