The UOC-MP is holding an international scientific and practical conference at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Among the topics are "Conciliarity of the Church" and “The crisis in world Orthodoxy caused by the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine.” In his opening speech, the Primate of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Onufriy, at the suggestion of Moscow, allowed himself to question the primacy of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Onufriy's speech was shared on the official website of the UOC MP.
"Today we see that even in the Orthodox Church, its conciliar system is under threat. The Patriarchate of Constantinople is increasingly talking about its special rights and trying to solve the most important issues of church life alone. It is the idea of the Church of Constantinople about its special status that is the root cause of the severe crisis in which the entire world orthodoxy finds itself today.
We are most concerned today that the Patriarchate of Constantinople refuses to bring up painful issues of church life for conciliar discussion. After all, it is obvious that only by calling meetings of the Primates of local churches, and possibly a Pan-Orthodox Council, can we find a way out of the severe crisis that has brought world Orthodoxy to the brink of schism.
All this encourages a focused and responsible discussion of the historical, canonical and theological aspects of the current crisis. We must delve again and again into the study of the Patristic heritage in order to correctly assess the challenges that the Church is currently facing...
Such a discussion is of particular value. It should help all of us to understand today's challenges from a broader perspective. And this will allow us to make more thoughtful and balanced decisions," Metropolitan Onufriy said.
As RISU reported, the UOC-MP holds this conference following the actions of the Russian Orthodox Church. In September, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided that Patriarch Bartholomew "no longer has the right to speak on behalf of the entire world Orthodoxy and represent himself as its leader." The Synod ruled that the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to Kyiv without an invitation from the head of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Onufriy, is a gross violation of the 3rd rule of the Council of Sardinia and the 13th rule of the Council of Antioch.”
On the eve of the UOC-MP reported that the conference, in addition to theologians and scientists from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the MP, is attended by representatives from seven local Orthodox Churches: Antioch, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Polish, Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia and the Orthodox Church in America.
The conference discusses the following issues:
Conciliarity of the Church as a theological and canonical category;
Apostolic Council in Jerusalem as the basis of conciliarity of the Church;
Ecumenical Councils: historical circumstances of convocation and principles of their work;
The issue of primacy in the Ecumenical Church in the era of Ecumenical Councils;
The 28th rule of the IV Ecumenical Council: theological, canonical and historical aspects;
The issue of appeals against decisions of church courts in the canons of Ecumenical Councils;
Discussions about the primacy in the Ecumenical Church in modern Orthodox theology;
The crisis in world Orthodoxy caused by the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine.