Russian Church Outside of Russia defrocked the bishop who spoke against its reunion with Moscow Patriarchate
New York, September 11, Interfax – Bishops Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia decided to defrock Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky) who joined schismatics.
He is given four weeks “to repent and appeal against the decision,” the ROCOR official website has reported.
The Synod also declared invalid all divine services, consecrations and ordeals conducted by Bishop Agafangel since his suspension.
Bishop Agafangel was suspended in 2007. After the Russian Church Outside of Russia re-united with the Moscow Patriarchate on May 17, 2007, he together with some of his associates stopped canonical communication with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and stated that they and some clerics of ROCOR dioceses who joined them represent the true Russian Church Outside of Russia.
Since then Bishop Agafangel has illegally consecrated new “bishops” and “priests” and continued celebrating the Liturgy in Ukraine.
