The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow, was recognized as the only canonical church in Ukraine by Archbishop Michal of Prague, as laid down in a decree.
On 20 February, Archbishop Michal Prague and the Czech Lands issued a decree on the authorization of co-officiation with clerics of foreign dioceses.
By this decree, the new church of Ukraine is characterized as an non-canonical structure, with which neither the ministry nor access to the Holy Communion can be found in the land of the Prague Orthodox Diocese.
In fact, the Archbishop of Prague pointed out that for the officiation with representatives of foreign dioceses on the territory of the Archdiocese of Prague, two documents were required.
One is the confirmation letter by the supreme metropolitan, archbishop or bishop that this clergy is a full member of the Orthodox Diocese of the canonical Orthodox Church, nor is it under any other canonical disciplinary punishment.
The second is the confirmation letter by Archbishop Michal of Prague and the Czech Lands, on the possibility of serving the Holy Liturgy with the clergy of a foreign Orthodox dyke in the land of the Prague Diocese.
“In the case of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, given the canons of the Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is considered canonical (Moscow Patriarchate – UOC-MP). The so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine – OCU” is considered non-canonical, whereby neither the service of the Holy Liturgy nor access to the Holy Communion can take place in the land of the Prague Orthodox Diocese, “says the Archbishop’s Decree.
The document emphasizes that cases of joint church service with the clergy of the non-canonical Church on the territory of the Prague Diocese “will not only harm the Orthodox Religious Community of the Prague Orthodox Diocese, but also the whole Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.”
“The perpetrators will be punished for non-compliance with this order,” sums up the decree of the Archbishop of Prague and the Czech Lands.
