The Byelorussian Patriarchate of St Andrew the First-Called Apostle was established in 1970 under the late Patriarch Peter II Zhurawetsky, in whose memory the Patriarchal seat has been held vacant since his death in 1994. From the outset the executive duties of the Patriarchal office were devolved to the Ecclesiast of All Byelorussia, the first holder of this office having been the late Prince Kermit of Miensk. Under Prince Kermit, the Patriarchate was latterly maintained as a private ekklesia of the Royal House Polanie-Patrikios.

Since the succession of Prince Edmond of Miensk to the position of Ecclesiast of All Byelorussia on the death of his adoptive father Prince Kermit in 2015, there has been an increase in the ecclesiastical activities in exile of the Patriarchate, these having been centred on missions in Brazil which have latterly expanded to other countries.

Recent developments have caused a revision of those missions that have hitherto been associated with the Patriarchate and which have operated under the working name Igreja Católica Ortodoxa Bielorussa no Brasil.

With immediate effect, the position of the Patriarchate has reverted to the former status of a private ekklesia of the Royal House Polanie-Patrikios solely. As such, its only member of clergy is now the Prince of Miensk as its Ecclesiast. All former members of the clergy, all lay ministers and all attached missions have now been released from the Patriarchate, and those clergy and missions who have wished to remain with our communion have been transferred to the Apostolic Episcopal Church and the Order of Antioch, where their ministry will continue.