Uzbekistani Government Reschedules Russian Orthodox Patriarch's Visit, Blocks Metropolitanate's Registration

The government of Uzbekistan has apparently rescheduled a pastoral visit to Uzbekistan by Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow, originally organized to coincide with the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Eparchy of Tashkent, due to the Russian Orthodox Church's unilateral reorganization of the Orthodox Church in Uzbekistan and its appointment of a new Metropolitan of Tashkent without first consulting Tashkent. Patriarch Kirill will still visit the Central Asian republic, but not at the beginning of the month as originally planned. Meanwhile the official registration of the newly established Metropolitanate of Tashkent and Central Asia continues to be blocked by the Uzbekistani authorities. More here.