Diocese of Korea (Russian Orthodox Church)

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The Diocese of Korea (Russian: Корейская епархия; Korean: 대한교구; Hanja: 大韓教區) is a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church which covers the territory Korea. It is part of the Patriarchal Exarchate in South-East Asia.

Convention of Peking in 1860 created short border between Korea and Russia. Therefore relations between Korea and Russia were improved. History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Korea was started when Russian Empire decided to send Russian Orthodox missionaries to Korea.

On the other hands, Orthodox Church in Japan was also belonged to Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore Japanese occupation of Korea resulted persecution of Orthodox Christian believers but did not terminated whole relations between Russian Orthodox Church and Eastern Orthodoxy in Korea. Liberation of Korea terminated relations between Orthodox Church in Japan and Orthodox Church in Korea. Furthermore, Division of Korea cut Russia-South Korean relations. Therefore Korean Orthodox Christian believers in South Korea decided to establish relations with Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople or Greek Orthodox church.

Because Eastern Orthodoxy was a minor religion and North Korean authority did not like religions, Russian Orthodox Church in North Korea was also suspended.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union created Russian Orthodox Church's interests in South Korea and North Korea.

In 2002, Kim Jong-il decided to construct an Eastern Orthodox church in North Korea. Therefore Church of the Life-Giving Trinity was established. North Korean Orthodox community established relations with Russian Orthodox Church and Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Korean Orthodox Church opposed and condemned Russian Orthodox Church's interests in South Korea and Russian church's jurisdictional claim on Orthodox church in North Korea.^[3]

After 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism,^[3] Russian Orthodox Church formally opened new churches in South Korea and established Diocese of Korea on 26 February 2019 by Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.^[1]

• Sergius (Chashin) (26 February — 4 April 2019) locum tenens
• Theophanes (Kim) (since 4 April 2019)