The Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Kyiv Patriarchate has readmitted a cleric who had previously married an “abbess”

A branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Kyiv Patriarchate announced the admission into its ranks of “priest” Andrei Fomenko, who is known for the scandalous circumstances surrounding his ecclesiastical career and personal life. “Patriarch” Nikodim made the announcement on August 21, 2026, specifying that the cleric currently resides and carries out his ministry in Germany.

Andrei Fomenko’s biography received widespread publicity in 2020, when, while serving as a clergyman of the OCU, he entered into an official marriage with former “abbess” Cleopatra Muzychko. It is noteworthy that Muzychko had previously left the Mykolaiv Monastery in Zaporizhzhia, according to investigators, after embezzling monastery valuables and funds, after which she was accepted into the OCU diocese.

The story of Fomenko and Muzychko’s marriage—details of which became public due to the actions of a marriage agency—led to his expulsion from the OCU. Subsequently, he attempted to join Filaret’s organization (the Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate), but after the circumstances of the case were clarified, he was expelled from the organization as having been “admitted in error.” Over the past few years, Fomenko’s activities have remained outside the purview of official church structures, though he continues to present himself on social media as a chaplain.