Archpriest Serhii Prokopchuk, Director of the Office of the SophiaBrotherhood
Speculation is growing in the public sphere about the possible convocation of a Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as early as tomorrow, May 27. What historic decision could this Council make?
It is expected that the Council will either proclaim autocephaly or at least adopt an appeal to the Local Orthodox Churches regarding this issue.
Today, the platform Dialogue.Tut published an insightful interview with renowned Greek canonist Dr. Anargyros Anapliotis, titled “Between Constantinople and Moscow: How the Conflict in Ukrainian Orthodoxy Could Be Resolved.” The conversation addresses many pressing questions concerning the existence of the UOC and explores prospects for improving its canonical status.
What conclusions can be drawn?
There can be no talk of UOC autocephaly — at least not on its own initiative.
In other words, for us, Ukrainian Orthodox believers, there is only one path forward: unity.
This is what the fullness of world Orthodoxy expects from us. This is what war-weary Ukrainian society longs for. This is what Moscow fears — because for them, it would be a devastating blow. By breaking away from Moscow and uniting Orthodoxy in Ukraine, we would strike a powerful blow to the foundations of Russia’s ideological war against Ukraine.
What developments would benefit all of us?
The Council of Bishops of the UOC adopts a resolution to restore Eucharistic communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and other Local Churches.
The UOC recognizes itself as part of the Metropolis of Kyiv within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Formally, this would not even require a new decision, since according to the rulings of the Ecumenical Patriarch in 2018, this is already an ecclesiastical reality.
The state lifts all legal claims against the UOC, ensures public order, and puts an end to inter-church conflict.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew establishes a transitional period for the convergence of jurisdictions and organizes dialogue on key issues that concern both sides.
May the love of God and the fear of divine justice heal the wounds caused by the painful division of Orthodoxy in Ukraine…
The Last Chance for the UOC
Archpriest Serhii Prokopchuk, Director of the Office of the Sophia Brotherhood
Speculation is growing in the public sphere about the possible convocation of a Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as early as tomorrow, May 27. What historic decision could this Council make?
It is expected that the Council will either proclaim autocephaly or at least adopt an appeal to the Local Orthodox Churches regarding this issue.
Today, the platform Dialogue.Tut published an insightful interview with renowned Greek canonist Dr. Anargyros Anapliotis, titled “Between Constantinople and Moscow: How the Conflict in Ukrainian Orthodoxy Could Be Resolved.” The conversation addresses many pressing questions concerning the existence of the UOC and explores prospects for improving its canonical status.
What conclusions can be drawn?
There can be no talk of UOC autocephaly — at least not on its own initiative.
In other words, for us, Ukrainian Orthodox believers, there is only one path forward: unity.
This is what the fullness of world Orthodoxy expects from us. This is what war-weary Ukrainian society longs for. This is what Moscow fears — because for them, it would be a devastating blow. By breaking away from Moscow and uniting Orthodoxy in Ukraine, we would strike a powerful blow to the foundations of Russia’s ideological war against Ukraine.
What developments would benefit all of us?
May the love of God and the fear of divine justice heal the wounds caused by the painful division of Orthodoxy in Ukraine…