The Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate has suspended Archbishop Andriy from ministry
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate has officially suspended Archbishop Andriy of Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva from the administration of his diocese.
The religious organization has not only prohibited him from performing priestly duties but has also issued an ultimatum regarding his possible complete defrocking.
According to the published document, Ivan Marutsak (Archbishop Andriy) has been relieved of all administrative positions and removed from the clergy roster.
The reason for this radical decision was the systematic violation of church canons and the patriarchate’s internal rules.
Church leadership emphasizes that the archbishop has a chance to return only on the condition of sincere repentance.
“If the archbishop does not fully repent for violating church rules, his case will be referred to a church court,” the official decree states.
The specific charges relate to violations of the 34th Apostolic Canon and the 15th Canon of the Double Council, which are typically associated with disobedience to higher church authority.
These canons regulate the hierarchical order and relations between bishops and the patriarch.
The fate of the parishes of the Pereyaslav Diocese has already been determined by the senior leadership of the UOC-KP. Those communities that express a desire to remain within the structure of the Kyiv Patriarchate will henceforth come under the direct administration of Patriarch Nikodim.
As a reminder, an archbishop of the UOC-KP accused Nikodim of usurping power.
Also, in the Kherson region, Russians shelled a monastery of the UOC-MP.
