OCU convenes “emergency synod” to dismiss rector of Kyiv Academy

On May 16, 2025, the OCU convened an “emergency synod” to dismiss the rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy, Oleksandr Trofimliuk. The now former rector of the KPBA had held his position since 2019. The reasons for the dismissal were not specified. This was reported by the organization’s official website.

«On May 16, 2025, an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) was held by teleconference. The meeting was attended by all members of the Synod. The Synod considered and granted the request of Archpriest Oleksandr Trofymliuk to resign from the post of rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy. The Synod expressed gratitude to Archpriest Oleksandr Trofymliuk for his many years of fruitful work in leadership positions at the KPBA. Upon the proposal of His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Archpriest Yaroslav Romanchuk, First Vice-Rector of the Academy, Candidate of Sciences in Theology, Associate Professor, was appointed Rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy,» — the press service of the OCU said.

As reported, on May 12, 2025, during a meeting of the Synod of the OCU, the organization decided to establish three monasteries. It is noteworthy that one of them, apparently, is a fictitious “clone” of the capital’s Holy Trinity St. John’s Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Botanical Garden, whose abbot is Archbishop Jonah (Cherepanov) of Obukhiv.