Russian Church: Holy Synod document refers to “Novorossiya” and “Ukrainian schismatic structures”

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved a special document containing guidelines for receiving individuals from “Ukrainian ecclesiastical structures,” which the Moscow Patriarchate describes as “schismatic,” during its meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2026, chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

The meeting took place at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in Moscow’s St. Daniel Monastery, where the Holy Synod examined a range of issues concerning ecclesiastical life and the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate.

According to a statement issued by the Russian Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod approved a document entitled “Guidelines for Receiving Persons from Ukrainian Schismatic Structures Seeking to Join the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The document was prepared by the Synodal Missionary Department following requests, according to the Russian Church’s statement, from diocesan missionary departments operating in Donbas and in areas of Ukraine that the Russian side refers to as “Novorossiya” (Новороссия).

According to the Moscow Patriarchate, these departments had requested practical guidelines on how to handle cases involving individuals belonging to…