Changes

In 1997, the bishops of the [[Holy Synod of Milan]], which had by then received a second [[Tomos]] confirming their autonomy in connection with the [[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)]] by [[Patriarch Voldymir]] of Kiev, received the bishops of the Western Rite Synod into the [[Holy Synod of Milan]] by a new granting of [[ordination]]and this choice led to the final break of any relationship between Milan and Kiev.. At the same time, Bishop John, who had served as ''[[locum tenens]]'' for First Hierarch after the repose of Metropolitan Joseph in 1990, was given the position of Archbishop of New York and New Jersey. He retained this title after being received into the [[Holy Synod of Milan Synod]] through chierothesia (often viewed as a 'confirmatory' or 'conditional' ordinations). Afterward, the American Archdiocese were granted autonomy, and the Milan Synod in Europe, effective April 4, 2011, ceased communion with the new Metropolia due to the Milan Synod's insistence on union with the Patriarch of Moscow, and the Sister Synod's refusal to accept such a union.