Metropolitan Paul (Russian: Митрополит Павел, Belarusian: Мітрапаліт Павел, secular name Georgiy Vasilevich Ponomaryov, Russian: Георгий Васильевич Пономарёв; born 19 February 1951 in Karaganda) was the Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus and the leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church (an Semi-Autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church) from December 2011 to August 2020. On August 26, 2020 by decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church and at the request of Metropolitan Paul, Metropolitan Paul was released from his duties as Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk and Patriarchal Exarch of Belarus. Metropolitan Paul was assigned to the Krasnodar and Kuban Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church effective August 26, 2020.