The Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine (AOCU) has restored its historical name and legally registered an independent religious center. The name in English is the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
This is stated on the official website of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).
The report says that the AOCU went through numerous bans from the Moscow/Russian and later Soviet authorities. However, the experience of this religious community has once again shown that no prohibitions will destroy sincere faith. Since 1988, the community has been able to resume its activities in the legal field, however, only as a component of the Russian (Russ) Orthodox Old Believer Church. At the same time, the spiritual center of the Ancient Orthodox Church is located in Ukraine, in the village of Bila Krynytsa, Chernivtsi region.
The Archdiocese of Bila Krynytsia of the Ancient Orthodox Christians has in its canonical subordination parishes in Romania, the USA, Canada, Italy, Australia, Germany, Georgia, Latvia and other European countries.
Believers of the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine are ancient Orthodox Christians. The term "Old Believers" was not a self-name - it was given externally. Believers of Ukraine return to their own name ‒ Ancient Orthodox Christians. The term "Old Believers" is also acceptable.
Thus, the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine (AOCU) restored its historical name and legally formalized an important step towards autocephaly ‒ the withdrawal from the subordination of the Moscow Metropolia to the Russian (Russ) Orthodox Old Believer Church. Accordingly, the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine (the name before the change – Administration of the Diocese of Kyiv and All Ukraine of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church) is not a component and is not subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church.
The new charter of the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine is an important step on its path to recognized autocephaly, proclaimed this spring. We bring to your attention the request by the clergy of the Archdiocese of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church of Kyiv and All Ukraine dated April 3, 2022. This is an important historical document on the path to the search for freedom, truth and Christian love. It is clear evidence of the courage to abandon imposed identities and overcome several hundred years of violence in the spiritual sector.
From this morning (November 2, 2022) in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations (USR) – the Ancient Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
"From the spring intention to its autumn realization, the path was not easy, and we are sincerely glad that it has been passed. Now, this religious community has new opportunities and new challenges. They had the courage to reject what was imposed from the outside and choose one's own path. This path might be difficult, but such is the way of those who value freedom!" Olena Bohdan, the Chairman of DESS, commented on the event.