Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople elects exarch for Lithuania

on May 26, 2026, a meeting of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Phanar. During the meeting, two new vicar bishops were unanimously elected, one of whom previously held a position in the OCU, and the other was a representative of Phanar in Lithuania.

According to Fos Fanariou, Epiphanius (Examilia) and Panaret (Tamika) received the status of bishops. The decision was made by all members of the Synod during the current session chaired by Patriarch Bartholomew.

The newly elected Bishop Epifaniy of Examilia previously held the title of «Bishop of Olbia» and was recently released from the jurisdiction of the OCU. The second elected hierarch, Bishop Panaretos of Tamika, has until now held the position of Great Preacher and served as Exarch of the Patriarch of Constantinople in Lithuania. Bishop Panaret is expected to continue his work in the new status.

Earlier, representatives of the diocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople operating in Lithuania complained about the activities of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Lithuanian Exarchate of Phanar claims that the LOC MP misleads believers from Ukraine who «do not understand their ideological affiliation.»