The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which took place in Moscow on March 20, appointed Archbishop Novoazovskii, vicar of the Donetsk diocese of the UOC-MP, to serve in the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The UOC-MP did not publicly respond to this.
“Archbishop Varsonofiy of Novoazovsk, vicar of the Donetsk diocese, shall be the Reverend of Kokshetau and Akmola,” reads Journal No. 7 of the Synod of the UOC-MP.
At the same time, the official website of the UOC-MP has no reaction to this appointment as of March 28. Bishop Varsonofiy is still listed as a vicar bishop.
As reported previously, Metropolitan Filaret (Zverev) of Novokakhovka and Henichesk of the UOC-MP took part in the meeting of the same Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on March 20.
This Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church also appointed Hieromonk Hilarion (Karandeyev), a cleric of the Diocese of Feodosia (Crimean Metropolis), who was previously a monk of the Pskov Monastery, as the head of the vacant see of the Diocese of Feodosia.
There was no public reaction on the part of the UOC-MP.