Press- release on the results of the session of the Holy Synod of the UOC (OCU)

Press- release on the results of the session of the Holy Synod of the UOC (OCU)
June 24, 2019
On June 24, 2019, a regular session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) took place in the historic Metropolitan’s House on the territory of St. Sophia of Kyiv. All the members of the Synod, except the Patriarch Emeritus Filaret (without a valid reason) and the Archbishop of Donetsk and Mariupol Serhiy (for a valid reason) took part in the session.
The Holy Synod had thoughts about the meetings of the three bishops, a small number of convened clergy and laity, which took place on June 20, 2019 in St.Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv.

As a result of the discussion, the following decisions were taken:

1. Due to the failure of the Patriarch Emeritus Filaret to submit the documents of Kyiv diocese for registration in a month term given by  the Holy Synod  of the previous Synod resolution, taking into account the numerous requests of the parishes and monasteries of Kyiv to the Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Epiphaniy, concerning the admission of them to direct subordination, as it complies with the canonical rules – to cancel clause 4 of Register No. 1 of the Holy Synod session on February 5, 2019 and to subordinate all parishes and monasteries of Kyiv, which were part of the UOC KP till December 15, 2018, to Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, as their direct diocesan bishop and according to the resolution of the Local Council of the UOC of Kyiv Patriarchate (December 15, 2018) and the Unification Council (December 15, 2018) are part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
2. For active participation in actions aimed at disturbing the confrontation in the church environment, conscious opposition to the decisions of the Council, violation of the 34 Apostolic rule, participation in the accomplishing of ordinances in a foreign diocese in contravention of the Statute and canonical rules – His Eminence Ioasaf (Shibaev), Metropolitan of Belgorod and Oboyan, and His Reverence Peter (Moskalkov), Bishop of Valuysk, Vicar of Belgorod Diocese, to be expelled from the bishopric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine since June 24, 2019.
3. Archimandrite Andrew (Marusak) and Hieromonk Elijah (Zelensky), who have been forbidden to serve in the priesthood, may apply to the Holy Synod within one month by submitting a petition to the Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, Epiphaniy, for the consideration of their affairs.
4. To determine that the acceptance of the episcopal rank ordination by clerics without the election by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is the reason for the categorical refusal to satisfy their possible future requests to be admitted into the bishopric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
5. To determine that the gathering of invited persons, individually convened and held by the Patriarch Emeritus Filaret, on 20 June 2019 at St.Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv did not have any authority to make decisions, in particular regarding the resolutions of the Local Council of the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate (December 15, 2018) which, according to the Statute of the UOC-KP, immediately after having been signed by the Presidium of the Council, headed by the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret, came into force.

Taking into account the above mentioned, but also taking into account the special merits in the past for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to state that the Patriarch Emeritus Filaret remains in the bishopric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, however, having lost his canonical rights and duties related to the administration of the diocese.
The Patriarch Emeritus Filaret may, through a letter addressed to the Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Epiphaniy, address to the Holy Synod for a joint consideration of his future position in the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

6. To testify that the entire completeness of the UOC-KP Patriarchate, as well as the fullness of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in accordance with the resolutions of their Local Councils on December 15, 2018 and the Unification Council (December 15, 2018) united into a one Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine , which is the only historical, canonical and legal inheritor and successor of their activities. No decisions, orders or other documents issued on behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate or under the name of its statutory bodies after the legal registration of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC (OCU) on January 30, 2019, have had any canonical and legal force and from the beginning have been ineffective and non-valid to be executed.

A number of decisions were also made:
1. To create the Synodal department of Sunday schools and catechesis, to appoint Archimandrite Makariy (Papish), the governor of St.Theodosius  Stavropiginian monastery in Kyiv, the Head of the department.
2. Implementing the decision of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Crete, 2016) to actively support environmental initiatives and establish the day of prayer on the protection of the natural environment on September 1 in the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the nearest Sunday after September 1, as the Day of Prayer for Protection the environment.
3. To conduct the general church celebration of the 1031st anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine on July 27-28, 2019:

– July 27th in the evening – All-night vigil (Vespers) in the St.Michael’s Golden-domed cathedral of Kyiv;
– July 28th in the morning – Divine Liturgy in Small (Warm) Sophia, the procession to the monument of St. Equal-to- apostles Prince Volodymyr and the prayer service.
A message was also listened to about the visit of His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany to the Ecumenical Patriarchate on June 10-12, 2019, as well as changes to the Statute and name of the monastery in the Volodymyr-Volyn diocese.

                                     Press service of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC (OCU)