Synod of Polotsk

The resolution of the Synod of Polotsk led to the Russian Orthodox Church immediately gaining 1607 formerly Greek Catholic parishes and 1.2 million new faithful under its jurisdiction.

The exception to the Polotsk Synod was the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Chełm (because it wasn't in the Russian Empire but in the Congress Kingdom of Poland), which was not terminated until 1875 by the Russophiles.

Further results from the decree were the eparchies being cut down again from four to two, and the establishment of Orthodox-led seminaries to teach new Greek Catholic priests, swaying the next generation to Orthodoxy and eventual reunification.

It was noted that Joseph (Semashko) would visit Greek Catholic parishes and engage into fierce debates on the union with Rome with the local priests.

In 1833, Joseph (Semashko) requested to convert himself into the Russian Orthodox Church, but the Most Holy Synod refused, stating he was too valuable to the reunification process.

The Russian government established a new 'Secret Committee for the Uniate Confession', including now, among others, Greek Catholic Bishop of Lithuania Joseph (Semashko), Russian Orthodox Metropolitan of Moscow Philaret (Drozdov), Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Kiev Josaphat (Bulhak), Chief Prosecutor of the Most Holy Synod Stepan Nechayev, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Count Dmitry Bludov.

February 12], at the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Polotsk, during the week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy (First Sunday of Lent), the Synod was opened after Divine Liturgy that day.