Patriarch Filaret visits Ukrainian Autocephalous Patriarchate

22.05.2001, 09:37

On May 18 Filaret, Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), paid a visit to the main office of the Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC). According to the press service of the UAOC, Filaret was invited by Archbishop Ihor Isichenko, administrator of the UAOC Patriarchate (pictured at right).

Archbishop Ihor presented Patriarch Filaret with materials from the local Church Council which the UAOC held on September 14 and 15, 2000 and other recent documents of his Church. The meeting drew some attention because Patriarch Filaret and Archbishop Ihor have held significantly different views on the question of creating a single national Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

Archbishop Ihor believes canonical norms should be upheld and that none of the presently ruling Orthodox Church leaders should be seeking first place in a united Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Filaret sees his Church, the UOC-KP, in the center of the unification process. He also supports more radical methods and considers himself the only real candidate for head of a united Church.