Reps of Kyivan Patriarchate Comment on Transfer of UAOC Parishes to Their Jurisdiction

Representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) commented on the transfer to their jurisdiction of a few dozens of parishes of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. In their opinion, the clergymen of UAOC resorted to that particularly due to differences in views with their primate, Metropolitan Mefodii (Kudriakov).  

“In the last few months, the process of unification of parishes and clergymen of UAOC with the Kyivan Patriarchate continued: there are now dozens of such communities. The unification is especially active in Ternopil Region which vividly shows the disagreement of the clergy and parishioners of UAOC with the position of the primate of UAOC, Metropolitan Mefodii (Kudriakov), who is personally responsible for the breakdown of the three previous unification attempts between UOC-KP and UAOC in 2001, 2005 and 2011,” reads the report of the web site of UOC-KP.

At the same time, as they admit new clergymen, representatives of UOC-KP express fear that they may start conflicts within the unified Church by virtue of habit.

“At the same time, one should put a special stress on the idea expressed in the decision of the Holy Synod, namely, that the unification process should not harm the internal unity of the Kyivan Patriarchate. UOC-KP cannot allow the misunderstandings and conflicts, which are typical for the life of UAOC, to be brought in our Church because of the unification,” warned the reps of UOC-KP.