You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Belarusian. (February 2024)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
| Беларуская аўтакефальная праваслаўная царква | |
Emblem | |
| Classification | Eastern Orthodox |
| Orientation | Slavic Orthodox |
| Scripture | Septuagint,New Testament |
| Theology | Eastern Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Metropolitan | Sviataslaw (Login) |
| Priests | 8 |
| Parishes | 9 |
| Language | Belarusian |
| Headquarters | Cathedral of St. Cyril of Turau,New York City |
| Territory | |
| Origin | 1922 |
| Recognition | Unrecognized |
| Separated from | Russian Orthodox Church |
| Official website | belacp.org |

TheBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Belarusian:Беларуская аўтакефальная праваслаўная царква,Bielaruskaja aŭtakiefaĺnaja pravaslaŭnaja carkvaBAPC), sometimes abbreviated asB.A.O. Church orBAOC, is an independentEastern Orthodox church, unrecognized by the mainstreamEastern Orthodox communion. Due to persecution against the Church in theRepublic of Belarus, it exists either underground or abroad.
The church separated from theRussian Orthodox Church on 23 July 1922, in an attempt to revive a national church in the territory of theByelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic which before thepartitions of Poland existed as eparchies (diocese) of Orthodox Church in thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and underEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Following theGerman occupation of Byelorussia, the church was re-established on 30 August 1942; the effort was supported by theBelarusian Central Council and thePolish Orthodox Church. With the advance of theRed Army in 1944, BAPC leaders largely immigrated to Germany.
On 5 June 1948, bishops and members of the BAPC which had managed to escape from the Soviet Union met inKonstanz (on theLake Constance) and reorganized their activities abroad with the help of its sister church theUkrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and its primatePolikarp (Sikorsky).
The church is currently based inBrooklyn,New York City and is mainly active within theBelarusian diaspora. It has ten parishes: three in theUnited States, three inAustralia, one inCanada, one in theUnited Kingdom and, since 2010, one inBelarus; it also has a mission in the United States. It has been led by Metropolitan Sviataslaw (Login) since 2008.
Its activities in Belarus are strongly opposed by theBelarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church and theBelarusian government.