Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church


The Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church is a non-canonical Russian Orthodox church body. ROAC identifies as part of True Orthodoxy. It was formed in 1994 by a number of former ROCOR parishes, who formed an independent jurisdiction because of disagreements with the ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Their synod is located in Suzdal, Russia. The ROAC rejects the "Sergianist heresy" and holds that the sacraments of the Moscow Patriarchate are anathema or invalid and ineffectual for salvation. The ROAC upholds in principle and emphasizes the ROCOR 1983 anathema against ecumenism.
The ROAC has 10 bishops, including five Archbishops, led by Metropolitan Theodore. The ROAC has a section in Latvia called the Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church.

History

When this group split from ROCOR in 1994, it was called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.
The ROAC was also historically referred to as the Karlovci Synod or "Karlovatsky group," dating to early years of the church outside Russia, when its bishops were based in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia.