MOSCOW (Realist English). The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved a series of leadership appointments, administrative reforms and institutional initiatives during its first meeting of 2026, held on March 12 at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.
The session was chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, according to Vladimir Legoyda, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, who outlined the decisions following the meeting.
Leadership changes in youth ministry and publishing council
Among the key кадровые решения, the Synod dismissed Bishop Seraphim of Istra from his position as chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs.
The body appointed Hieromonk Filaret (Zubov), a lecturer at the Moscow Theological Academy, as acting head of the youth department.
At the same time, Bishop Seraphim was appointed first deputy chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Changes in the Western European Exarchate
The Synod also reviewed the situation in the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe and adopted several major leadership changes.
Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe was relieved of his duties as head of the Korsun Diocese, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, temporary administrator of the Spanish-Portuguese Diocese and overseer of Moscow Patriarchate parishes in Italy.
Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailov was appointed Metropolitan of Korsun and Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. He will retain temporary oversight of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese while stepping down from his leadership role in the Ryazan Diocese.
The Synod also appointed Metropolitan Nestor as Bishop of Stupino, a vicar of the Korsun Diocese. Temporary administration of the Spanish-Portuguese Diocese and Moscow Patriarchate parishes in Italy was entrusted to Metropolitan Mark.
New leadership for Ryazan and Novosibirsk dioceses
Following Mark’s reassignment, the Synod filled the vacant Ryazan see by appointing Metropolitan Nikodim of Novosibirsk and Berdsk as Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailov and head of the Ryazan Metropolitanate.
Bishop Bartholomew of Balakovo and Nikolaevsk was named the new Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Berdsk and head of the Novosibirsk Metropolitanate.
In turn, Bishop Innokenty of Ussuriysk was appointed Bishop of Balakovo and Nikolaevsk.
Changes in external church relations
The Synod also considered the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations and dismissed Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov) from his post as deputy chairman of the department.
Adoption of new church statutes
The meeting approved updated versions of several model statutes governing canonical structures of the Russian Orthodox Church operating in Russia. These include statutes for dioceses, parishes in Moscow, episcopal and patriarchal compounds, monasteries, theological academies and seminaries.
Church bodies operating outside Russia were instructed to apply these statutes while taking into account the legal frameworks of their respective countries.
Missionary guidelines approved
Synod members also reviewed a report by Archbishop Savva of Zelenograd, head of the Synodal Missionary Department, and approved new regulatory documents for diocesan missionary departments in Russia.
These include the “Regulations on the Diocesan Missionary Department of the Russian Orthodox Church (in the territory of Russia)” and practical guidelines for missionary activity.
The Synod reminded diocesan bishops that missionary work should follow official church documents, including the “Memorandum on the Organization of Missionary Activity in Dioceses in Russia,” approved by Patriarch Kirill in 2025.
Other decisions and initiatives
The Synod formally approved resolutions adopted by the Synods of the Belarusian Exarchate, the Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian Metropolitan District in earlier meetings.
It also established a new Russian Orthodox parish in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Additional decisions included adding two saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church to the church calendar, launching a master’s program on social ministry at the Don Theological Seminary and approving the theme and schedule for the 35th International Christmas Educational Readings.
The meeting concluded with a memorial litany in honor of the late Metropolitan Lazar (Shvets).
