Bishops' council discusses vocal Bishop Diomid

You remember Bishop Diomid. He was soundly criticized by Bishop Hilarion, several officials from the Moscow Patriarchate, and his people were involved in an altercation with supporters of the Patriarch that ended in icon wielding, head smashing fisticuffs outside a church. Put on your surprise faces before reading that the bishops' council might have something to say to him about calling out the patriarchate for "an attempt to unite all faiths in one syncretistic religion." among other volatile statements.

Moscow, June 26, (Interfax) - The working group of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the policy of Chukotka Bishop Diomid, and the Council will make a decision on his future on Friday, Bishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, the secretary of the working group of the Council, told Interfax-Religion.

The working group "unanimously criticized the actions of Bishop Diomid," he said.

"It is necessary to wait until Friday when the Council will make a decision on the future of the Chukotka bishop and assess his actions," he said.

Bishop Mark urged journalists not to hype the tension around the issue concerning the future of the bishop of Chukotka. "It is not advisable to predict any decisions of the assembly," he said.

Bishop Diomid of Chukotka has repeatedly made statements in the past year and a half calling for the self-isolation of the Russian Orthodox Church. He has also called for the rejection of any dialogue with the authorities, other religions, as well as the rejection of missionary activity among the youth.