In addition to the events surrounding the Kiev Caves Lavra, there has been an increased wave of violent church seizures accompanied by local authorities seizing land and declaring bans on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over the past few weeks.
Like those who previously left ROCOR to join Constantinople, Gayfudinov did so without a canonical release.
Late last month and earlier this month, a hierarch of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia visited and concelebrated with the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Slavic Vicariate in America, which is headed and served by a number of defrocked clergy.
More clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are speaking out in defense of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Lavra.
He will celebrate Holy Pascha at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn.