On September 7, 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople sent two exarchs, one from the U.S. and another from Canada, to Kiev in order to initiate the process of "legitimatizing" a schismatic "autocephalous" church in the Ukraine, breaking its former promises not to do any such thing, and without any consultation with the existing canonical Church, which constitutes the vast majority of practicing Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
Because of the lack of information on Ukrainian Church history and reality available in English, and the resulting misinformation being spread, OrthoChristian.com will be gathering articles on the subject in this section. We hope also by this to help our readers understand why this move violates our Church canons and accepted traditions.
News
- Kiev City Council gives Lavra land plots to state authorities
- Police investigating beating of Metropolitan Longin of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Persecuted Metropolitan Longin attacked at home, has to undergo surgery
- Schismatics remove St. Alexander Nevsky from their liturgical calendar
- Ukrainian officials lie to UN, deny violence against Orthodox faithful despite video proof (+VIDEOS)
- Ukraine puts Patriarch Kirill on its wanted list, Russia responds in kind
- Moldovan hierarch visits monastery of Ukrainian hierarch whose health is deteriorating amidst persecution (+VIDEOS)
- ROCOR Synod issues statement on the Nativity Fast and fratricidal warfare
- Territorial defense and police seize Orthodox church in central Ukraine
- Fr. Cyril (Hovorun), supporter of schismatics, is subject to defrocking, ecclesiastical court rules
- Persecuted Metropolitan Longin again hospitalized with heart problems
- Hundreds rally in support of persecuted Metropolitan Longin of UOC in Romania and Moldova
- Pochaev Lavra and Seminary are Ukraine’s latest target—female students forced out of their rooms (+VIDEO)
- Ukraine: 50+ Deputies call for international examination of bill to ban the UOC
- U.S. and UN commissions are monitoring persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Schismatics break priest’s jaw, throw nuns out into the streets in monastery seizure (+VIDEO)
- Czech-Slovak Synod stands with persecuted Ukrainian Church
- Armed men cordon off monastery after seizure by schismatics
- Ukraine closes Orthodox churches of Ancient Chernigov Preserve, leaves schismatic churches open
- Schismatics and Uniates attack pregnant woman, seize churches
- Armed security forces surround Ukrainian monastery that is home to hundreds of orphans (+VIDEO)
- Kiev Court upholds attempts to forcefully rename Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian propaganda group blatantly lies to U.S. audiences, claims there is no persecution
- Dutch and German deputies oppose Ukraine’s accession to EU because of persecution of Orthodox Church
- Patriarch Kirill calls for prayers for those in UOC who strive to preserve Church unity
- Targeted UOC hierarch instructs his priests how to serve under persecution
- UOC lawyer pens warning letter to Ukrainian Parliament
- Ukraine evicts Ukrainian Church from cathedral in western Ternopil Province
- Truth about what’s happening to the Ukrainian Church is banned in the U.S., UOC lawyer tells Tucker Carlson (+VIDEO)
- Constantinople priest: The OCU is a spiritually deluded, frivolous church—Patriarch Bartholomew greatly erred
- Ukrainian gov’t behaves just like Lenin and Stalin—Metropolitan Mark of Berlin
- Ukrainian Church protests state discrimination
- “Whatever they do to us, we’ll still love everyone”—Metropolitan Onuphry on bill to ban the Church
- Abbot of Vatopedi (Mt. Athos) concelebrates with schismatic who personally led violent anti-Orthodox attack
- Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Nicholas of ROCOR send messages on looming ban of Ukrainian Church
- Ukrainian Parliament votes for bill to ban UOC in first reading, second reading still to come
- Metropolitan Onuphry suspends priest who served with schismatics and Constantinople bishop
- Ukraine: 350+ Orthodox parishes re-registered to schismatics so far this year
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church receiving pro bono defense from international law firm
- Persecuted UOC hierarch addresses UN Human Rights Council
- Violent schismatics break women’s ribs and legs, injure several others (+VIDEO)
- 14 hierarchs in court, 19 clerics deprived of citizenship—Ukrainian Security Service publishes stats on its persecution of UOC
- Ukrainian authorities block monastery and cathedrals in Chernigov, prevent Liturgy
- UOC hierarch sentenced to prison meets with UN Human Rights reps
- Met. Luke of Zaporozhye to Secretary of State Blinken about persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Kiev court orders police to investigate crimes of anti-Orthodox activists at Lavra
- Fr. Cyril (Hovorun), supporter of schismatics, suspended by Patriarch Kirill
- Ukraine’s Svyatogorsk Lavra given stavropegial status under Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev
- Ukrainian Synod: Love and bless your enemies, bear witness to the love of Christ!
- Kiev Caves Lavra chapel and holy spring desecrated with Nazi symbols
- Court upholds city council decision to cut all ties with Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Authorities cut off electricity to Western Ukrainian convent
- Kiev City Council considering demolition of 74 Orthodox churches
- Kiev Theological Schools kick off new year at new location after being expelled from Lavra (+VIDEO)
- “I will have the opportunity to defend the Church of Christ,” writes latest bishop targeted by Ukrainain government
- Ukraine brings charges against another bishop, two priests
- “If you imprison him, imprison us too!”—Ukrainian diocese intercedes for its persecuted hierarch
- Authorities now targeting nuns in Western Ukrainian convent
- Human rights investigation into state abuse at Kiev Caves Lavra begins
- Persecuted abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra discharged from hospital after heart attack
- Three Ukrainian lavras celebrate patronal feast of Dormition, thousands in procession despite efforts against them (+VIDEOS)
- Kiev Theological Schools forced to leave the Kiev Caves Lavra
- Case starts against Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy, OCU “clerics” attend as fake “victims”
- Metropolitan Onuphry forbidden from entering Lower Lavra
- Procession to Pochaev Lavra begins despite police attempts to turn everyone away
- Lavra: Police break down doors to monks’ buildings, schismatics enter Metropolitan Onuphry’s residence (+VIDEOS)
- Persecuted abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra diagnosed with serious heart condition after surgery
- Persecuted abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra undergoes emergency heart surgery
- Kiev Caves Lavra: People locked in with no food, Communion through closed gates, vandalized icons (+VIDEO)
- Hierarch of Constantinople visits Zelensky, OCU, Lavra as state blocks pilgrims from entering monastery
- Criminal proceedings opened against Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye
- “They’re trying to shut us up”—Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye on police interrogation
- Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from Lower Lavra, UOC will appeal
- Ukrainian hierarch sentenced to 5 years in prison
- Abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra released after months of house arrest and detention
- Metropolitan Onuphry leads feast of Pochaev Icon with thousands of hierarchs, clergy, faithful (+VIDEOS)
- Schismatics seize another church, throw priest with 7 children into the street
- UOC Chancellor explains why the Church isn’t switching to the New Calendar
- Ukrainian hierarch appeals to U.S. media on behalf of persecuted UOC
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates St. Vladimir and the Baptism of Rus’ (+VIDEOS)
- Schismatics give final approval to New Calendar—the move is condemned by other schismatics
- Three UOC dioceses have appealed to state on behalf of detained abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra
- Ukrainian Metropolitan, father of 100s of orphans, victim of state oppression, suffers severe stroke
- Patriarch of Serbia calls on world leaders to fight for release of Kiev Caves abbot
- Thousands fill Kiev Caves Lavra for feast day of founder St. Anthony (+VIDEO)
- Russian Bishops’ Conference addresses Ukraine, Constantinople, and other issues of Church life
- “You have left an indelible mark in our hearts”—Kiev Caves Lavra brotherhood to their persecuted abbot
- Ukraine blocks fundraising for Metropolitan Pavel’s $900,000 bail
- “All the accusations are utter lies”—abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra addresses the brotherhood from detention
- Ukraine: Rivne Diocese appeals to authorities about detention of abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra
- Abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra moved from house arrest to pre-trial detention center
- “Orthodox Ukrainians are deeply touched by our Serbian brethren in Christ”—Met. Luke offers thanks for support of UOC
- Old Calendar Christmas no longer a public holiday in Ukraine
- Ukrainian Church launches site for broadcasts of services from Lavras and other monasteries, churches
- Zaporozhye city cuts off all relations with UOC, Metropolitan Luke calls on diocese to defend the Church
- Byzantine icons removed from Ukraine put on display at Louvre
- Medical cannabis is about as useful as medical alcohol—Ukrainian Council of Churches against legalization
- Schismatics destroy church doors, break parishioner’s arm during illegal seizure with police help
- Ukraine: Vandals set fire to wonderworking icon of Theotokos (+VIDEO)
- Authorities break into and seal residence of Metropolitan Onuphry and other buildings of Kiev Lavra (+VIDEOS)
- Ukrainian faithful again come to the defense of the Kiev Caves Lavra
- Belarusian Synod in defense of the Kiev Caves Lavra
- Court extends Lavra abbot’s house arrest again
- President Zelensky introduces bill to cancel celebration of Old Calendar Christmas, following Uniates and schismatics
- UNESCO denies reports that it has plans to evacuate Kiev Caves relics
- Ukraine didn’t forcefully evict Lavra monks thanks to UN, says new UN Human Rights report
- Kiev Caves Lavra celebrates 35th anniversary of revived monastic life
- Whatever happens, the Liturgy will be celebrated!—UOC hierarch prepares clergy for potential closure of all churches
- The Church is persecuted for warning against sin—UOC Chancellor on “Pride Month”
- Ukrainian сlergy and faithful defend church from schismatic seizure (+VIDEO)
- 100+ Serbian academics in defense of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Zaporozhye Diocese to city council: You don’t understand anything about the Church
- Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from the Upper Lavra
- Ukrainian primate is Met. Onuphry, but majority decision of Synod must be obeyed—Met. Nikiforos of Kykkos (Cyprus)
- Cyprus: New bishop of Paphos rejects commemoration of schismatic Epiphany of Kiev
- Demand that UOC leaves the Lavra is “illegal and groundless,” says Church’s Legal Department
- “Don’t condemn our father”—orphans plead for end to crusade against Metropolitan Longin (+VIDEO)
- UOC has three days to leave Kiev Caves Lavra, according to new state order
- Police caught on video using violence against priest and elderly women in church seizure (+VIDEO)
- Another bishop becomes target of Security Service of Ukraine
- Kiev Caves abbot gets another month of house arrest
- Schismatic hierarchs adopt New Calendar, want authorities to follow their lead and change state holidays
- Ukraine going after Metropolitan Longin, Hero of Ukraine, father of 100s of orphans (+VIDEO)
- Schismatics hold satanic “funeral” for UOC outside Kiev Caves Lavra (+VIDEO)
- Court case against another UOC hierarch—his diocesan website had links to Russian Church sites
- Ukrainian and Russian Church reps meet with WCC delegation
- Schismatics attack parishioners, seize churches in Kiev Province
- State throws rocks in the face of the Mother of God—UOC’s Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye
- Ukrainian religious council blatantly lies to WCC, says there is no religious persecution in Ukraine
- Church seized and renamed by schismatics last month now stands empty (+VIDEO)
- Ukrainian bishop found guilty of “inciting religious enmity” for having Orthodox books
- Court resumes case on forcibly renaming the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Bans on UOC and church seizures will eventually all be overturned in court, says Ukrainian Deputy
- Don’t repeat the mistakes of Lenin, Stalin and Khruschev, Pochaev abbot tells local official
- Authorities admit: in Transcarpathia and Kiev no UOC churches join schismatics
- Radicals try to attack His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry (+VIDEO)
- Local authorities find “violations” at Pochaev Lavra
- Ukrainian Church deprived of land under churches across the country
- State must provide Church with report supposedly showing misuse of Lavra, says Kiev court
- Jerusalem hierarch calls on WCC to end persecution of Ukrainian Church
- Ukraine restricts access to Kiev Caves Lavra
- Antiochian Synod highlights persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Arsonist destroys beautiful church in western Ukraine (+VIDEO)
- Lavra will be used for arts and crafts and military rehab center, says Minister of Culture
- Orthodox prayers continue to ring out in Kiev Caves Lavra (+VIDEO)
- Lavra: Faithful forced to commune through bars of locked gate (+VIDEOS)
- Ukraine: Attacks at churches on Holy Pascha
- UOC bishop appeals to Pat. Bartholomew: You personally share in the blame for what’s happening
- We pray for those who spit in our faces—Ukrainian hierarch shows the Christian way
- State Dept. rep: I haven’t heard about church attacks and seizures in Ukraine
- Metropolitan Onuphry: We must defend our churches, but without malice
- VIDEO: Ukrainian bishop physically assaulted
- Man painfully dies after attacking priest and cross during church seizure
- ROCOR clergy call on Congress to stand up for persecuted Ukrainian Church
- Churches backhoed and set ablaze in Ukraine (+VIDEO)
- “Don’t leave the Lavra, don’t become traitors”—abbot’s message from house arrest
- Violent church seizures continue throughout Ukraine, priest hospitalized (+VIDEO)
- VIDEOS: Little girl bravely defends her Orthodox faith at Kiev Caves Lavra
- VIDEO: What the Ukrainian Church needs the world to know
ARTICLES