His Beatitude publishes an address on the anniversary of Council in Feofania
The Primate of the UOC emphasized that after the decisions of the Council of 2022, the Church completely separated from the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, published a message on the occasion of the third anniversary of the historic Council of the UOC, which took place on May 27, 2022, at the Panteleimon Monastery in Feofania. The message was published by the UOC press service.
In his message, Metropolitan Onuphry reminded that the Council was convened after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, when the Church faced complex challenges that required a conciliar decision.
"Unfortunately, after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Moscow Patriarch Kirill fully sided with the Russian political leadership, consistently justifying the military aggression against Ukraine," the Primate emphasized.
His Beatitude noted that the Council adopted a number of fundamental changes to the Statute on the governance of the UOC, which testified to the complete canonical separation from the Moscow Patriarchate. All points regarding the connection with the ROC were removed from the Statute, and the resolutions of the Russian Church are no longer the basis for the activities of the UOC.
"After May 27, 2022, we are no longer part of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Council clearly stated our Church's desire for complete canonical independence. And at this moment, we already have all the attributes of such independence," declared Metropolitan Onuphry.
The Primate highlighted that now the UOC independently resolves all issues of its internal and external life: it sets up new eparchies, elects bishops and a primate without interference from other Local Churches, independently makes holy chrism, and opens parishes abroad.
"We hope that the entire family of Autocephalous Local Churches will morally support us, approve of our canonical independence, and mark it with the appropriate distinction," noted Metropolitan Onuphry.
In conclusion of his address, His Beatitude called on all believers to intensify their prayers for Ukraine, its people, and warriors, as well as for the Church, so that the Lord may support it during these difficult trials.
We publish the full text of the message:
ADDRESS
on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,
held on May 27, 2022, in Kyiv (Feofania)
Christ is Risen!
I sincerely congratulate everyone on the great feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, through which Christ, our Savior and Lord, "trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life" (Paschal troparion).
In these blessed Paschal days, we mark the third anniversary of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place in Kyiv, at the St. Panteleimon Monastery in Feofania.
In 2022, after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our holy Church faced complex challenges, the resolution of which was only possible with the help of conciliar church wisdom. And we chose the path of conciliarity.
On May 27, 2022, in Kyiv, at the Holy Panteleimon Monastery (Feofania), the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place, which made a number of important decisions.
Unfortunately, after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Moscow Patriarch Kirill fully sided with the Russian political leadership, consistently justifying the military aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, in the first weeks of the war, numerous priests of our Church began to express their disagreement with the words and actions of Patriarch Kirill. Both individual parishes and entire eparchies in different regions of Ukraine began to refuse to mention the name of the Moscow Patriarch during worship. In this situation, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church decided to convene a gathering of bishops, priests, monks, and laypeople in Kyiv to discuss the life of our Church in wartime conditions.
This meeting began its work on the morning of May 27, 2022, at the Feofania Monastery. Bishops, priests, monks, and laypeople from all eparchies of our Church participated (in person or remotely) in it. Thus, this meeting had a sufficient quorum to become a full-fledged Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. When it became clear that the idea of holding the Council immediately was supported by nearly all participants, it was decided to hold a session of the Holy Synod and the Council of Bishops on the same day, followed by the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the participation of bishops, priests, monks, and laypeople, according to the adopted regulations.
This Great Council began its work in the afternoon of May 27. The overwhelming majority of the delegates of the Council advocated for the complete separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate. That is why the Council made a number of fundamental changes to the Statute on governance, which testifies to the complete canonical independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its its clear separation from the Moscow Patriarchate. All points regarding the connection between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church were removed from the Statute. In particular, the resolutions of the Russian Orthodox Church are no longer the basis for the activities of our Church. The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is elected for life by the episcopate of our Church and does not need to receive a blessing for his ministry from the Moscow Patriarch. The Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine ceased to be a member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. The name of the Moscow Patriarch is no longer mentioned during worship in the churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Council unequivocally condemned the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and expressed disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill regarding this war. The Council also declared its intention to restore the rite of chrismation in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In addition, the delegates of the Council expressed support for the development of our Church's mission abroad among Orthodox Ukrainians who, due to the war, found themselves outside their homeland, to help them preserve their faith, culture, language, and Orthodox identity.
Thus, the Council, which took place three years ago at the Feofania Monastery, fundamentally changed the life of our Church. After May 27, 2022, we are no longer part of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Council clearly stated our Church's desire for complete canonical independence. And at this moment, we already have all the attributes of such independence. Our Church independently resolves all issues of its internal and external life: it opens new eparchies, elects bishops and its primate without interference from other Local Churches, independently makes holy chrism for its own needs, and opens parishes abroad.
We hope that the entire family of Autocephalous Local Churches will morally support us, approve our canonical independence, and mark it with the appropriate distinction..
Sacred history testifies that Church Councils, which defend and protect the purity of faith and Christian morality, are guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who leads us into all truth (John 16:13), and we are comforted by the fact that in these difficult times, when Ukraine is going through one of the most challenging periods in its history, the Lord does not abandon us but continues to lead us to His Kingdom.
And today, as we celebrate the third anniversary of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, I call on everyone to intensify their prayers for our homeland Ukraine, for its people, and for our warriors who, at the cost of their own lives, defend their native land. I also urge everyone to pray for our Church, so that the Lord may support us during these difficult trials, help us understand what is God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2), and give us the strength to fulfill His will in our lives.
I invoke God's blessing upon us all.
ONUPHRY
METROPOLITAN OF KYIV AND ALL UKRAINE, PRIMATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
