Kiev, July 20, 2018
Ukrainian President Poroshenko with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at a recent meeting in Constantinople. Photo: uninan.info Ukrainian schismatics of the so-called “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) and the “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church” have been eagerly awaiting a tomos of autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.
Although no timeline was stipulated or worked out when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s parliament-backed appeal was delivered to Constantinople in April, the clergy and members of the schismatic churches were hoping and expecting the tomos to be granted before July 28, when the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus’ will be celebrated.
However, KP officials are now recognizing that a tomos will not be granted in time for the July celebrations, but are certain it will come in August, reports the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.
The Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, meeting last week, did not discuss the Ukrainian issue, and thus it will be delayed at least until late August when they next meet.
According to one diplomat characterized as familiar with the details of the establishment of a Local Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the delay in the granting of the tomos is only due to the amount of time needed for Constantinople to “finish informing the other Local Churches on the matter.”
However, rather than “informing” the other Local Churches on the matter, Constantinople publicly stated that it had “decided to closely communicate and coordinate with its sister Orthodox Churches concerning this matter,” at its late April session. Constantinople representatives have since met with the heads of several Local Churches, although none have expressed any support for the legitimizing of the Ukrainian schismatics.
“Synodal sessions are held regularly, every month. That is, any of the upcoming regular sessions of the Synod [of Constantinople—O.C.] can make this decision,” said the head of the KP’s information department “Archbishop” Evastraty (Zorya).
The Speaker for the Verkhnova Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, Andriy Parubiy also said last week that a decision about a tomos of autocephaly is a “question for the summer or autumn.”
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