“Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate has consistently supported all efforts aimed at recognizing the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine by His Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the Mother Church of Constantinople, as well as overcoming the existing church separation, the establishment of a single Local Orthodox Church,” the document says.
The UOC-KP supports the efforts of the President and the public to recognize the Ukrainian Church autocephaly and proclaim the relevant Tomos. This is said in the statement of the Kyiv Patriarchate.
“Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate has consistently supported all efforts aimed at recognizing the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine by His Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the Mother Church of Constantinople, as well as overcoming the existing church separation, the establishment of a single Local Orthodox Church,” the document says.
The UOC-KP noted that all of their hierarchs signed an appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew requesting him to grant the Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. A similar request was also signed by the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
We express our hope that within the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate) there are also responsible hierarchs who are really concerned about the future of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and will support efforts for canonical legitimization of Ukrainian Church’s independence by the Ecumenical Patriarch.
We also rely on the support of the Ukrainian Parliament, the entire Ukrainian society, for understanding by other religious organizations in Ukraine.
As far as we know, now, as never before, there is every reason to expect for a positive decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch. However, it is obvious that the opponents will not sit with their hands folded, and will use all means prevent the Tomos from being proclaimed. Therefore, at the moment we cannot provide more details of the process that has begun,” UOC-KP claims.