UOC-MP Plans No Substitution For Metropolitan Volodymyr At Next Synod

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate does not intend to appoint at its next synod an acting head of the church for the period until the recovery of Metropolitan Volodymyr, Heorhii Kovalenko, the primate's press secretary, said in a commentary to tyzhden.ua in order to refute information spread by mass media.

"I hear it for the first time now. Its is senseless both from the point of view of the canons and Statutes. Therefore, I do not understand what can be the source of that information. It appears that there are many smart people in the media who have no close relation to real life. The session is planned to be held on January 26, but it might be postponed."

"On the contrary, it seems to me that the illness of the primate unites the church. All the churches pray for His Beatitude. He is improving, celebrates services himself; therefore, I do not understand the source or purpose of that information. In addition, the last Synod confirmed that all the institutions in the church are functioning during the illness of the primate,” the protopriest said.

According to the protopriest, the church's Statutes stipulate the election of an acting head as a temporary measure in two cases; namely, the death of the head of the church or his abdication.