Metropolitan Onufriy has issued a message marking the three-year anniversary of the historic Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which convened on May 27, 2022, and declared the Church’s independence from the Moscow Patriarchate.
Reflecting on the critical period following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Metropolitan Onufriy recalled the difficult choices faced by the Church. “In 2022, after the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, our Holy Church was faced with difficult challenges, the resolution of which was possible only through the conciliar mind of the Church,” he said. “And we followed the path of synodality,” he added.
He emphasized the growing division between the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church during the first weeks of the war. “Unfortunately, after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow fully took the side of the Russian political leadership and consistently justified the military aggression against Ukraine. So, as early as in the first weeks of the war, numerous priests of our Church started to declare their disagreement with the words and actions of Patriarch Kirill.”
This reaction triggered a wider response across the Church. “Both individual parishes and entire dioceses in different regions of Ukraine began refusing to commemorate the name of the Patriarch of Moscow at divine services. In this situation, the Holy Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church decided to convoke a meeting of bishops, priests, monastics, and the laity in Kyiv so as to discuss the life of our Church in the conditions of war,” said Metropolitan Onufriy.
At the Council held on May 27, 2022, a decisive shift occurred. “An overwhelming majority of the delegates at the Council spoke in support of the complete separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Patriarchate of Moscow,” he stated.
As a result, the Council adopted significant amendments to the Church’s Governance Charter. “That was why the Council introduced a range of fundamental amendments to the Governance Charter, which testified to the full canonical independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and her unambiguous distancing herself from the Patriarchate of Moscow. All the provisions regarding the connection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) were removed from the Charter.”
Metropolitan Onufriy explained the practical implications of the decision: “In particular, resolutions of the ROC are no longer grounds for activities of our Church. The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is elected by the episcopate of our Church for life and needs not receive a blessing for his ministry from the Patriarch of Moscow. The Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine has ceased his membership in the Holy Council of the ROC. The name of the Patriarch of Moscow is not commemorated at the churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at divine services anymore.”
Despite the clarity of these actions, the Moscow Patriarchate has yet to officially recognize the UOC’s disconnection. Nevertheless, Metropolitan Onufriy reiterates that the 2022 Council clearly condemned Russia’s aggression and rejected Patriarch Kirill’s stance. “The Council in May 2022 unequivocally condemned the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and expressed disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill on this war.”
Further reforms included the revival of the Church’s practice of preparing Holy Chrism, as well as a commitment to serving Ukrainian Orthodox communities abroad. “The Council also declared its intention to restore the ceremonial canon of the preparation of the Myrrh in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Onufriy said, adding: “The representatives of the Council spoke in favor of the development of the Church’s mission abroad among Orthodox Ukrainians who found themselves outside their homeland as a result of the war, in order to preserve their faith, culture, language and Orthodox identity.”
He concluded with a clear affirmation of the Church’s current position: “Therefore, the Council held 3 years ago at the convent of Feofaniia fundamentally changed the life of our Church. After 27 May 2022, we are no longer part of the Patriarchate of Moscow. The Council clearly stated the aspiration of our Church for full canonical independence. And presently, we already have all the attributes of such independence.”
“Our Church independently resolves all issues of her internal and external life: opens new dioceses, elects her bishops and primate without interference from other Local Churches, independently prepares Holy Chrism for her own needs, opens parishes abroad.
We hope that the entire family of the Autocephalous Local Churches will morally support us, approve our canonical independence, and acknowledge it with a proper sign,” said Metropolitan Onufriy.
