The Bulgarian Orthodox Church Was Reprimanded By Moscow

• 17.07.2026, 13:23

They were required to always include a reference to the Moscow Patriarchate in their name.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has approved changes to the official name of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. From now on, the full name—“Belarusian Orthodox Church (Belarusian Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate)”—must be used in legal documents, on the official website, and in other official materials.

The decision was made after the Holy Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate approved amendments to the charter of the republican association “Belarusian Orthodox Church” on June 30, 2026. These amendments were approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Russian Orthodox Church noted that the requirement to include the Moscow Patriarchate in the official name had already been established by a decision of the Holy Synod dated July 24, 2025.

According to this decision, the requirement applies to all legal names, official websites, documents, as well as the names of the internal canonical structures of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.

The Belarusian Exarchate was established in 1989. In September 2024, the republican association “Belarusian Orthodox Church” underwent state re-registration.