The Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Belarusian: Беларуская аўтакефальная праваслаўная царква, Bielaruskaja aŭtakiefaĺnaja pravaslaŭnaja carkva BAPC; Russian: Белорусская автокефальная православная церковь), sometimes abbreviated as B.A.O. Church or BAOC, is an independent religious body in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Following the German occupation of Byelorussia, the church was re-established on 30 August 1942; the effort was supported by the collaborationist Belarusian Central Council. With the advance of the Red Army in 1944, BAPC leaders largely escaped to Germany.