His Grace {{Unreferenced}}Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky) was ruling [[bishop ]] of Odessa and the Crimea, overseeing the parishes of the [[ROCOR|Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]] in the Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. Following the signing of the [[Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate|Act of Canonical Communion]] between the ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Agafangel left the [[jurisdiction ]] of the ROCOR and declared himself the head of a new jurisdiction called the [[ROCOR (PSCA)|Provisional Supreme Church Authority]] (PSCA). He was subsequently suspended by the ROCOR Synod for disobeying lawful authority and inciting [[schism]]. 

Michael Ivanovich Pashkovsky was born [[November 22]], 1956, in Odessa, Ukraine. There he graduated from Odessa Pedagogical Institute. On [[August 31]], 1991, he was tonsured [[tonsure]]d a [[monk ]] receiving the name Agafangel. On [[September 1]], 1991, he was [[ordination|ordained ]] hierodeacon and on [[September 8 ]] - hieromonk. The ordinations were carried out in Moscow, Russia, by Archbishop Lazar (Zhurbenko), a Russian catacomb bishop secretly ordained by the [[ROCOR]] Bishop [[Varnava (Prokofiev) of Cannes|Varnava of Cannes]].  In 1992 he became rector of the Saint Natalia and Adrian (now Saint John of Kronstadt) church in Odessa, Ukraine.

On March 27, 1994, Agafangel was consecrated a bishop at the Holy Emperor Constantine Cathedral in Suzdal, Russia, by Archbishop Lazar (Zhurbenko), Bishop Valentine (Rusantsev), and Bishop Thedore (Gineevsky). At that time these bishops had separated from the In 1992 he became [[ROCORrector]] of the Saint Natalia and organized their own paraecclesiastic organization called the "Free Russian Orthodox Church". Neither the [[ROCOR]] Synod Adrian (now Saint John of BishopsKronstadt) church in Odessa, nor any of the local churches, recognized Agafangel's consecration as valid at the timeUkraine.

However On [[March 27]], 1994, Agafangel was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] a bishop at the Holy Emperor Constantine Cathedral in February 1995 Suzdal, Russia, by Archbishop [[Lazar (Zhurbenko)]], Bishop [[Valentine (Rusantsov)]], and Bishop [[Theodore (Gineyevsky)]]. At that time these bishops had separated from the bishops dissolved ROCOR and organized their own paraecclesiastic organization called the "Free Russian Orthodox Church" and requested to be reaccepted into . Neither the ROCOR [[ROCORSynod]]. Upon a trial period of one yearBishops, nor any of the [[ROCOR]] Synodlocal churches, acting in the spirit of oikonomia, accepted recognized Agafangel's ordination consecration as valid. In 1996 he was appointing ruling bishop of Simferopol and at the Crimeatime.

Following However in February 1995 the retirement of ROCOR First-Hierarch [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Metropolitan Vitaly]], Archbishop Lazar (Zhurbenko) followed bishops dissolved the aged Metropolitan into his self-proclaimed [["Free Russian Orthodox Church in Exile]]" and requested to be reaccepted into the ROCOR. InitiallyUpon a trial period of one year, Bishop Agafangel supported Archbishop Lazar. Howeverthe ROCOR Synod, at acting in the 2001 Bishopspirit of oikonomia, accepted Agafangel's Council ordination as valid. In 1996 he supported was appointing ruling bishop of Simferopol and the [[ROCOR]] Synod and voted for [[Laurus (Skurla) of New York|Metropolitan Laurus)]] as First HierarchCrimea.

Since 2003, Bishop Agafangel was an active critic Following the retirement of the ROCOR's dialog with the Moscow Patriarchate. On the other hand, he signed the epistle First-Hierarch [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of the 2006 Council of Bishops supporting the reconciliation process. Yet following the Synod's approval of the Act of Canonical Communion in 2006 he publicly stated that he "does not support the document approved by the Synod". On October 16, 2006, he clarified his positionNew York|Metropolitan Vitaly]], stating that "we are not separating from Archbishop Lazar (Zhurbenko) followed the Synod led by aged Metropolitan Laurus ..into his self-proclaimed [[Russian Orthodox Church in Exile]]. however, as an extreme measureInitially, we are suspending commemoration of the First Hierarch at services." A subsequent meeting of the Synod of Bishops ordered Bishop Agafangel to resume commemorating the First Hierarch or face suspension; Bishop Agafangel complied with the ordersupported Archbishop Lazar. In the run-up to the signing of the ActHowever, at the Synod ordered 2001 Bishop Agafangel's transfer to Council he supported the diocese of Buenos Aires ROCOR Synod and South America, which he accepted in principle but did not carry out in practice, citing visa difficulties and the health voted for [[Laurus (Skurla) of his elderly motherNew York|Metropolitan Laurus]] as First Hierarch.

Following Since 2003, Bishop Agafangel was an active critic of the ROCOR's dialog with the Moscow Patriarchate. On the other hand, he signed the epistle of the 2006 Council of Bishops supporting the reconciliation process. Yet following the signing Synod's approval of the Act of Canonical Communion in Moscow, Russia, on May 17, 2007, Bishop Agafangel declared 2006 he publicly stated that he did "does not accepted support the document and would "continue to abide approved by the previous Bylaws of Synod". On [[October 16]], 2006, he clarified his position, stating that "we are not separating from the ROCORSynod led by Metropolitan Laurus ... however, as an extreme measure, considering any actions we are suspending commemoration of the Moscow Patriarchate to be unlawfulFirst Hierarch at services." He accused A subsequent meeting of the Moscow Patriarchate Synod of "sins of sergianism and ecumenism." On May 22, 2007, Bishops ordered Bishop Agafangel issued a statement that he and Bishop to resume commemorating the First Hierarch or face [[Daniel (Alexandrow) of Erie|Daniel of Eriesuspension]] were organizing a Provisional Supreme Church Authority for those who "have remained in ; Bishop Agafangel complied with the ROCOR", citing authority of Ukase Noorder. 362 In the run-up to the signing of Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow, dated November 20, 1920. While Bishop Daniel had previously expressed reservations about the Act of Canonical Communion, there is no evidence that he ever intended the Synod ordered Bishop Agafangel's transfer to break with the [[ROCORdiocese]] Synod; ratherof Buenos Aires and South America, the elderly vicar for the care of Old-Ritualists continued to remain which he accepted in principle but did not carry out in communion with Metropolitan Laurus. In practice, Agafangel found himself alone, supported by a handful of clergy citing visa difficulties and the majority health of his parishes in Ukraine, which had refused to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Churchelderly mother.

On Following the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion in Moscow, Russia, on [[May 2017]], 2007, Bishop Agafangel declared that he did not accept the members document and would "continue to abide by the previous Bylaws of the ROCOR, considering any actions of the Moscow Patriarchate to be unlawful." He accused the Moscow Patriarchate of "sins of sergianism and ecumenism." On [[ROCORMay 22]] Synod, meeting 2007, Bishop Agafangel issued a statement that he and Bishop [[Daniel (Alexandrow) of Erie|Daniel of Erie]] were organizing a Provisional Supreme Church Authority for those who "have remained in the ROCOR", citing authority of Ukase No. 362 of Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow, suspended dated [[November 20]], 1920. While Bishop Agafangel Daniel had previously expressed reservations about the Act of Canonical Communion, there is no evidence that he ever intended to break with the ROCOR Synod; rather, the elderly [[vicar]] for inciting schismthe care of Old-Ritualists continued to remain in communion with Metropolitan Laurus. In practice, disobeying lawful authorityAgafangel found himself alone, supported by a handful of [[clergy]] and refusing transfer the majority of his parishes in Ukraine, which had refused to join the Buenos Aires cathedraUkrainian Orthodox Church.

At an emergency meeting of the On [[ROCORMay 20]] Synod on June 28 and 29, 2007, issued a "final letter the members of warning" to Bishop Agafangel, calling on him to cease all schismatic activity. The the ROCOR Synod also approved the suspension of Abbot Andronik (Kotliaroff), head of the Russian Ecclesiastic Mission meeting in JerusalemMoscow, and other clerics that supported suspended Bishop Agafangel. However on December 7, 2007, with the aid of bishops from the [[Holy Synod in Resistance]]for inciting schism, a faction of Old-Calendar Greeksdisobeying lawful authority, Agafangel carried out the consecration of Andronik (Kotrliaroff) as soi-disant Bishop of Richmond Hill and New York. Hieromonk Sofroniy (Musienko) was also consecrated soi-disant Bishop of Saint Petersburg and Northern Russia. These ordinations marked the final breach of the new organization, calling itself the Provisional Supreme Church Authority, with refusing transfer to the ROCOR synodBuenos Aires cathedra.

On November 19At an emergency meeting of the ROCOR Synod on [[June 28]] and [[June 29|29]], 2007, the Synod issued a "final letter of warning" to Bishop Agafangel, calling on him to cease all schismatic activity. The Synod also approved the suspension of Abbot Andronik (Kotliaroff), head of the [[Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem|Russian Ecclesiastic Mission]] in Jerusalem, and other clerics that supported Agafangel. However on [[December 7]], 2007, with the aid of bishops from the [[Holy Synod in Resistance]], a faction of Old-Calendar Greeks, 2008Agafangel carried out the consecration of Andronik (Kotliaroff) as soi-disant Bishop of Richmond Hill and New York. Hieromonk Sofroniy (Musienko) was also consecrated soi-disant Bishop of Saint Petersburg and Northern Russia. These ordinations marked the final breach of the new organization, calling itself the Provisional Supreme Church Authority elected Bishop Agafangel to , with the rank of MetropolitanROCOR synod.

Critics have accused Agafangel of political motives. In December 2006, Archimandrite Benjamin (Trepaliuk) accused Agafangel of a "pathological hatred of RussiaOn [[November 19]], its authorities2008, and its people" and of collaborating with the American Central Intelligence Agency. Archimandrite Benjamin claimed that Provisional Supreme Church Authority elected Bishop Agafangel believes the CIA to be "the most human organization in the world", which "cares for the good of all people." Others point to the suspended bishop's friendship with John Herbst, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, as "ties with the [US] State Department," as well as his active support of the administration rank of Ukrainian President Victor Yuschenko, seen by many Russians as a "CIA puppetMetropolitan."