Ukraine: New ruling bishop appointed for Ternopil Diocese

28. September 2017
In the cathedral of the Nativity of Ternopil, 19 September, the UAOC clergy elected a new diocesan bishop by secret ballot. Bishop Tikhon (Petranyuk) of Odesa and Chorniomorsk was elected. Most of the participants voted for his candidacy. Bishop Tikhon (Petranyuk) will be appointed as a ruling bishop of Ternopil Diocese after the approval of his candidacy by the UAOC bishops. According to the website of the Patriarchy of the UAOC, the meeting of Ternopil diocesan clergy was chaired by Metropolitan Macarius (Maletych). In addition to bishop Tikhon of Odessa, candidates for the See of Ternopil were as follows:
- Archbishop Herman (Semanchuk) of Chernivtsi and Khotyn;
- Bishop Borys (Kharko) of Kherson and Mykolayiv;
- Metropolitan Roman (Balashchuk) of Vinnytsia and Bratslav, who, however, was unable to arrive at a diocesan assembly due to his health condition.

As reported, until recently the Diocese of Ternopil was temporarily led by Metropolitan Makariy, the Primate of the UAOC. After removal of the ruling hierarch, Mstislav (Guk) for improper conduct, the leadership of Ternopil Diocese was changed several times. First, it was led by Metropolitan Andriy (Abramchuk) of Ivano-Frankivsk, later the diocese was chaired by Bishop Victor (Bed) of Mukachevo and Carpathians. On May 4, 2017, Bishop’s Council of the UAOC removed him from the leadership of Ternopil Diocese. (Quelle: www.risu.org.ua, 20. September 2017)