New Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate and Dialogue with Kyiv Patriarchate

Representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate do not expect a fruitful dialogue with the new leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine as Metropolitan Onufriy (Berezovsky) has effectively blocked its work.

“We understand that in such circumstances initiating a fruitful dialogue with the newly elected official leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine is unlikely. Therefore, we call for dialogue, cooperation and understanding of the bishops, priests and faithful of the UOC (MP) who are aware of the need to reject the non-canonical imposed ecclesiastical authority of the Moscow Patriarchate, want to overcome the division of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and form a unified national church,” reads the statement published the day after the elections.

During his first press briefing, Metropolitan Onufriy said that he is ready for dialogue with Patriarch Filaret, head of the UOC-KP.

"The topic of unity was discussed, we have always been open to dialogue between the branches of Orthodoxy, and we want unity," he said. "But we have our own principles - canons of the Holy Orthodox Church and the unity can only be in accordance with these canons. Other arguments may not be sufficient for such unity," said the metropolitan.

It’s worth mentioning that it was Patriarch Filaret who ordained  Metropolitan Onufriy as bishop in 1990. Later Onufriy hasn’t supported  Filaret in his strive for autocephaly.