UOC-KP ready to put aside patriarchal status for new Church, Synod decides

The clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate stand for the patriarchal organization of the new unified Church, but the Kyivan Patriarchate is ready to cede this dignity if circumstances so require. The decision was made today, on December 6, by the participants of the Holy Synod of the UOC-KP.

“With regard to the status of the Patriarchate for the Ukrainian Church, we consider it to be an absolutely fair, historically grounded and pastorally justified status for our Local Church. After all, its number of faithful, clergy and bishops is one of the largest among the other Orthodox Churches, its history dates back to the sermon of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and its external conditions and internal qualities of existence are no inferior to those of the Bulgarian, Georgian, Russian, Romanian, Serbian Patriarchates,” said the Synodal decree.

The hierarchs of the UOC-KP remind that they spoke in favor of patriarchal authority on May 13, 2016, but for the good of the cause, they are ready to abandon this status for a certain time.

“Given all the circumstances, our Church is ready, if necessary, to postpone for some time the request to recognize it in a dignity of patriarchate, retaining that name within its boundaries and for domestic use,” the participants of the Synod of the UOC-KP said.