Synod of the UOC MP called on Constantinople to stop interference in internal affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) at a meeting held on September 25, 2018 in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, expressed his attitude to the appointment of the “Exarchs” by the Constantinople Patriarchate in Kyiv (Journal No. 17). This is reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

This appointment was called by the UOC (MP) “a gross interference in the internal affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the violation of its canonical territory.

The Synod of the UOC called upon the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew to stop interference in the internal affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and not to violate its canonical territory.

“The exarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon and Bishop Ilarion of Edmonton, should leave the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” says the decision of the Synod of the UOC (MP) and it states that their activities are anti-canonical and violate the inter-confessional peace in Ukraine.

The Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Synod, decided to suspend concelebration with the hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The members of the Synod urged clergy, monasticism and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to “strengthen their prayers for preserving the unity of the Holy Orthodoxy.”

As RISU has reported, on September 23, Patriarch Bartholomew stated that the Church in Ukraine will receive the status of Autocephaly in the near future, despite the existing obstacles, and this will happen as it is entitled to it.

On the one hand, it enjoys an exclusive right to receive [such] status of Autocephaly. On the other hand, the right to grant [this] status of Autocephaly belongs exclusively to our Ecumenical Patriarchate, as happened with all the new Orthodox Churches, starting from Russia in the XVI century. and ending with the Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as I said before.

“By implementing the sacred canons, the [Ecumenical Patriarchate] consistently continues to grant [autocephalies] on its part, and also adheres to the privileges granted to it by the Ecumenical Councils. We will not betray these canons and the privileges of the Ecumenical Councils that were granted by these Councils [us] as the First Holy See Church of Constantinople. We respect and adhere to these canons, and we will implement them, as in the case of Ukraine, and in any other where the need arises,” said Bartholomew I.