The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), chaired by Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, convened in the Synodal Hall of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.
The Synod gave particular attention to two major issues: the ongoing interference of the Moscow Patriarchate in Africa and the pastoral activities of the OCU among Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Regarding the situation in Africa, the Synod reviewed a letter from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew concerning the uncanonical actions of the Russian Orthodox Church on the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
The hierarchs of the OCU reaffirmed their full support for Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and condemned Moscow’s schismatic and anti-canonical expansion, describing it as rooted in the heretical ideology of the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir).
The Synod called for Patriarch Kirill to face ecclesiastical trial and permanent removal from the Patriarchal throne, and approved a formal response letter to be sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The Synod also considered a complaint by Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland regarding the OCU’s chaplaincy mission in Poland. After reviewing the report of Metropolitan Ilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, the Synod resolved that these pastoral activities arose from necessity, as OCU clergy and faithful in Poland had faced uncanonical and unchristian treatment. A clarifying letter was approved for submission to both the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
