Counting the “fragments” of ROCOR...

Alexey Rodionov | updated June 19, 2026

[A brief survey of the unfortunate landscape left behind by ROCOR’s 2007 union with the Moscow Patriarchate by an MP observer. It should be noted, according to this academic study (https://orthodoxmiscellany.blogspot.com/2026/06/a-brief-overview-of-largest-modern.html), the largest "fragment" is that of Metropolitan Agafangel. – Blog Admin.]

 

 

I decided to undertake a count of the number of ROCOR “fragments.” Although I have been studying these “fragments” for a long time, I nevertheless did not know how many there were in total. But before counting them, it is necessary to determine what exactly constitutes a “fragment.”

By a “fragment,” I will mean an independent jurisdiction claiming to preserve the authentic confession of the doctrine and liturgical rites that existed in ROCOR during the tenure of Metropolitans Philaret (Voznesensky) and Vitaly (Ustinov), and founded by clergy and laity who served in ROCOR during that period, or deriving from such a jurisdiction and not having substantially altered those views and practices.

The list includes only currently existing “fragments” that have at least one bishop. Full self-designations are given only for those “fragments” whose names differ from the standard “Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.”

 

ROAC line:

1. Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC; in practice, the word “Autonomous” is often omitted). The Primate is Metropolitan Theodore (Gineevsky); the Primate’s residence is in Suzdal (Russia). It was formed in 1993–1995 from a portion of the “Russian parishes” of ROCOR.

2. Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church (originally the Latvian Free Orthodox Church). The Primate’s residence is in Daugavpils (Latvia). It was formed in 1994 as part of the ROAC and remained so until 2011, when it proclaimed itself part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and began commemorating Patriarch Bartholomew at the divine services. In view of this, its classification among the “fragments” is highly questionable, but for the time being let it remain here.

3. Genuine Orthodox Church of America (GOCA). The Primate is Archbishop Gregory (Abu-Assal); the Primate’s residence is in Buena Vista, Colorado (USA). It was formed in 2005, following the expulsion of Archbishop Gregory (Abu-Assal) from the ROAC hierarchy.

 

4. ROAC Bishops’ Conference (BC ROAC, “Luryeites”). The Primate is Bishop Gregory (Lurye); the Primate’s residence is in St. Petersburg (Russia). It was formed in 2007, after separating from the ROAC. It is in partial communion with the Boston Synod.

 

5. Ukrainian Autonomous True Orthodox Church (UATOC). The Primate is Bishop Job (Konovalyuk); the Primate’s residence is in Rivne (Ukraine). It separated from the Boston Synod in 2012, after Job (Konovalyuk) received episcopal consecration from the Luryeites. They conduct services in Ukrainian.

 

“Panteleimonite” line:

6. Holy Orthodox Church in North America (HOCNA; sometimes called the Boston Synod). The Primate is Metropolitan Gregory (Babunashvili); the Primate’s residence is in Brookline, Massachusetts (USA). In 1986–1987, they separated from ROCOR, and for some time, were part of the Auxentian Synod, but in 1997 they became independent. They are in partial communion with the Luryeites.

 

ROCOR(V) line:

7. ROCOR(V-V). The Primate is Archbishop Vladimir (Tselishchev); the Primate’s residence is in Mansonville (Canada). It was formed in 2007–2008 from the remnants of ROCOR(V).

8. PRC-ROCOR (formerly ROCOR(V-F) or ROCOR(V-V-F)). The Primate is Metropolitan Philaret (Rozhnov); the Primate’s residence is in the village of Amosovka, Medvensky District, Kursk Region (Russia). It was formed in 2015 after separating from ROCOR(V-V).

9. PRC-ROCOR of Philaret (Semovskikh). The Primate is Metropolitan Philaret (Semovskikh); the Primate’s residence is in Brisbane (Australia). It was formed in 2020 after separating from PRC-ROCOR. It includes the pro-Ukrainian and, accordingly, sharply anti-Russian Cossack Orthodox Church of the ROCOR hierarchy / Kyiv-Galicia Metropolia (also known as the True Orthodox Church of Ukraine — Kyiv-Galicia Metropolia; abbreviated TOCU-KGM).

10. ROCOR(V-A) / TOCM / ROCOR(M) / ROCOR(V-Zh) (the name True Orthodox Church of Moldova [Biserica Adevărat-Ortodoxă din Moldova], under which it is officially registered, is not used in everyday practice). The Primate is Archbishop Anthony (Rudei); the Primate’s residence is in the village of Bilicenii Vechi (Moldova). It was formed in 2007–2008 from the remnants of ROCOR(V).

11. Russian Orthodox Church (RosOC(A)). The Primate is Metropolitan Stefan (Babaev); the Primate’s residence is in Syktyvkar (Russia) (?). It was formed in 2008 following the split of the RosOC into RosOC(A) and RosOC(D).

12. Russian Orthodox Church (RosOC(V)). The Primate is Archbishop Victor (Pivovarov); the Primate’s residence is in Slavyansk-na-Kubani (Russia). It was formed in 2009 by separating from RosOC(A).

13. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Vasily (Kirillov), with the Primate’s residence in Penza (Russia). It was formed in 2024–2025 through the union of Metropolitan Vasily (Kirillov) (formerly of RosOC(D)) and the independent Archbishop Martin (Lapkovsky) (formerly of PRC-ROCOR).

14. Russian Orthodox Church (RosOC(S)). The Primate is Archbishop Stefan (Usachyov); the Primate’s residence is in Penza Region. It was formed in 2021 in connection with the breakup of RosOC(D).

15. Jurisdiction (name unknown) of Bishop Ambrose (Dvornichenko), with the Primate’s residence in Denver, Colorado (USA). It was formed in 2020 after Bishop Ambrose refused to recognize his suspension and deposition from the episcopate by ROCOR(V-V).

 

RTOC line:

16. Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC). The Primate is Archbishop Tikhon (Pasechnik); the Primate’s residence is in Omsk (Russia). It was formed in 2001 after separating from ROCOR.

17. Serbian True Orthodox Church (STOC). The Primate is Archbishop Akakije (Stanković); the Primate’s residence is in Despotovac (Serbia). It is in communion with the “Foreign District” and Archbishop Sophrony (Musienko).

18. Jurisdiction (name unknown) of Bishop Savvaty (Bezkorovainy), with the Primate’s residence in Vinnytsia (Ukraine). It was formed in December 2024 following Bishop Savvaty’s separation from the RTOC.

 

ROCOR(A) line:

19. ROCOR(A). The Primate is Metropolitan Agafangel (Pashkovsky); the Primate’s residence is in Odesa (Ukraine). It was formed in 2007, separating from ROCOR immediately after the signing of the “Act of Canonical Communion.”

20. Foreign District. It has no Primate. Its sole hierarch is Bishop Andrei (Erastov), who lives in Australia. It is in communion with Sophrony (Musienko) and the STOC.

21. Jurisdiction of Archbishop Sophrony (Musienko). The Primate’s residence is in the village of Naverezhye, Dedovichsky District, Pskov Region (Russia). It is in communion with the “Foreign District” and the STOC.

 

At present, I also have no information regarding Dionysius (Alferov) and Nicholas (Modebadze), who may likewise head their own “fragments.”

 

Russian source: https://rocor-observer.livejournal.com/223984.html