The so-called “Honorary” Patriarch Filaret of Kiev responded immediately to the decree issued by the head of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius.
Regarding the decision of Epiphanius to withdraw from his jurisdiction the Church of Intercession of the Theotokos in the Solomyanskiy district of Kiev, “Honorary” Patriarch Filaret pointed out that, if the parish was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Autocephalous Church, that had been done without my consent, as the ruling Bishop, which means that the canonical order has been violated.”
He called Metropolitan Epiphanius to “adhere to the canonical order and the bishop’s oath that you have taken during the ordination. We, the Archpriests, should be guided by the canons of the Church and not violate them in the administration of a Metropolis.”
