Fr. Thomas Soroka Calls for OCA to Suspend ACOB Membership
Soroka urged the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America to suspend or withdraw its membership with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in response to a controversial statement issued by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
NOVEMBER 20, 2025 — Fr. Thomas Soroka has called for the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America to suspend or withdraw its membership in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops (ACOB) over a recent statement issued by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“I am absolutely appalled at the statement of these ‘rulers’ (ἄρχοντες),” wrote Soroka, a respected and influential OCA priest, on his Facebook page.
He expressed concern that the Archons referred to the delegation—which contained representatives from the Greek Archdiocese, Antiochian Archdiocese, Orthodox Church in America, ROCOR, and the Serbian Orthodox Church—as “Russian State agents.”
“I am begging the bishops of the Orthodox Church in America to give serious consideration to suspend your participation in the so-called 'Assembly of Bishops,' if not leave it entirely,” Fr. Thomas continued.
He warned the OCA hierarchs, “You are being played for fools”:
Parallel church structures are being created in direct contradiction to every ethical norm of that Assembly’s purpose. They use deposed clergy, mocking the long standing, venerable jurisdictions present in this country. Your faithful clergy and people will not stand idly by to see our beloved church’s history, leaders, and rightful authority in the United States ignored, smeared, and discredited for their political and strategic gain.
He concluded by urging the Holy Synod of the OCA to “register your displeasure about the extremely disgusting accusations made against these good and sincere people who had every right to meet with these representatives as citizens of the United States of America.”
“Suspend your participation in the AOB,” Fr. Thomas said, “until sanity is restored and truth is honored. Everything will be done for God’s glory.”
Recently, the UOJ reported on a pan-Orthodox delegation that met with representatives of the Trump Administration to discuss the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
