An announcement on the Autocephaly of the Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the intention to “convene the Local Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev” was published today, Friday 14, by the Press Office of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine.
In the aforementioned announcement, it is explicably clarified that “the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the complete status of Autocephaly, that is, full administrative independence. It is not “a Metropolis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and does not belong to it, maintaining the same prayer and communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the other local churches”.
It is also noted that “Due to the fact that, with the decision of the Local Synod of 15-12-2018, held before the United Synod, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev ceased functioning as a separate religious organization, the carrying out of any action on behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev, in particular in the name of its statutory bodies (Holy Synod, Hierarchical Synod and Local Synod) is illegal “.
“‘Honorable’ Patriarch Filaret has no right to unilaterally convene a ‘Local Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev’ in accordance with the Chart of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, or even with the Statutory Charter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev”, continues the announcement.
“The arbitrary and not provided for by the Statutory Chart convocation of a non-elected assembly of persons without authorization, and the characterization of such a meeting as a “Synod”, amounts to separation of the Church”, concludes the announcement of the Press Office.
