A cleric of the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the UOC was banned from ministry for falling into schism

The press service of the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church published a report that the ruling bishop had banned Archimandrite Veniamin (Kizey), rector of St. Michael’s Church in the village of Slobidka-Okhrymovetska and St. Elijah’s Church in the village of Stanislavivka, Vinkovets district, from priesthood. The reason for the ban was the priest’s falling into schism. The message was published on the Telegram channel of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy of the UOC.

“On December 1, 2024, by the decree of the administrator of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy, Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytsky and Starokonstantinovka, Archimandrite Veniamin (Kizey), a cleric of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy, was dismissed from the post of rector and chairman of the Parish Council of religious communities of St. Michael’s Church in the village of Slobidka-Okhrymovetska and St. Elijah’s Church in the village of Stanislavivka, Vinkovets district of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and on the basis of 10, 11 and 39 of the Canons of the Holy Apostles, the 2nd Canon of the Council of Antioch, for gross violation of the oath of the clergyman and falling into schism, he is BANNED from the priesthood without the right to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ,” — the statement reads.

Earlier we reported that the rector of the Peter and Paul Church in the village of Limanske of the Baltic Diocese of the UOC (Odesa region) was banned from priesthood for falling into schism. On November 23, 2024, the priest took part in a meeting of the village residents, at which it was decided to transfer to the OCU.