"Those who initiated autocephaly do not want peace in our land"

Metropolitan Mitrophan of Gorlovka and Slavyansk

—The Patriarchate of Constantinople “canonically restored” the head of the unrecognized “Kiev patriarchate” Philaret (Mikhail) Denisenko, the head of the schismatic Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) Makary Maletich, as well as the clergy and parishioners of both structures. How should we react to this news?

—Someone looking at recent events in Church life from the sidelines would get the impression that two jurisdictions are trying to figure out which of them is more important, and are fighting over territory. This is not the case, in fact. The question of granting autocephaly to Ukraine is absolutely not an ecclesiastical question.

Politicians have very blatantly interfered in Church life. In this case, the Patriarchate of Constantinople is a tool in a great political game the goal of which is to prevent peace in Ukraine. The people discussing the tomos and autocephaly and calling themselves experts are people who don’t know how one opens the door to a church. In this situation, we have the misfortune of being hostages who can only observe the process. The only way for us to influence the situation is our attitude toward it and the personal choice each of us will have to make under the circumstances.

The coexistence of several jurisdictions on one territory is only possible if the state does not interfere in the life of the Church. We understand, however, what the idea of the authorities is, because President Poroshenko articulates it openly: a definitive break of our spiritual ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. So we don’t have any hope that the government will not interfere in the lives of church communities.

Philaret was excommunicated, he is currently in schism, and all the Local Orthodox Churches recognize this. In light of the decision of the Synod in Istanbul about his “canonical restoration,” the question that arises is not who Philaret is to us now. The question is who Constantinople is.

The Patriarch of Constantinople has accorded himself the right to make such decisions unilaterally about any territory, in any jurisdiction—in spite of the conciliar nature of our Church. This is a serious problem not only for the Orthodox Christians of Ukraine, but for Orthodoxy around the world. There are schisms everywhere, this is not a uniquely Ukrainian problem, but there have always been rules that have guided us in this matter. Today they were broken. If other Local Churches tacitly support the actions of Constantinople, the same situation could arise for each of them.

Now we must wait for the decision of the Synod of our Church and the other Local Churches’ reactions to what has taken place in order to understand what to do next.

See also
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The 7th of September will go down in history as a lamentable date. On this day, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proclaimed and signaled a schism in Universal Orthodoxy, along the liberal and conservative lines. And he is officially headed in a liberal direction.
Repentance and not Autocephaly is needed to heal the schism in Ukraine: An interview with the Archbishop Theodosy (Snigiryov) of Boyarka Repentance and not Autocephaly is needed to heal the schism in Ukraine: An interview with the Archbishop Theodosy (Snigiryov) of Boyarka Repentance and not Autocephaly is needed to heal the schism in Ukraine: An interview with the Archbishop Theodosy (Snigiryov) of Boyarka Repentance and not Autocephaly is needed to heal the schism in Ukraine
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The 1030th anniversary celebration of the Baptism of Rus’ revealed new tendencies in the church life of Ukraine, made manifest in the hidden attitudes of society towards the church. What were the spiritual results of this anniversary? Has the danger of the non-canonical legalization of the schism ceased? What is the spiritual status of the Ukrainian flock? When will peace finally come to Ukraine?
Comments
Steve Cox10/14/2018 6:09 am
The bishop of highest honor wanted to rule the Church unilaterally with no regard for the other Bishops.He caused a split in 1054. Now the current bishop of highest honor seems to be going down the same road. If he can unilaterally rule the Church then that means the bishop of Rome could do so in 1054. That would mean the pope would be the rightful ruler and not Bartholomew. Would Bartholomew agree to that? Also the robber council of 2016 was a display of arrogance that makes politicians with they could be so brazen.keep the Church leaders in our prayers to do the difficult but right thing.
Very sad10/13/2018 6:25 pm
Bartholomew and his synod have proven to the Orthodox world that they are not men who are pursuing purification, illumination, and theosis. This was a power grab and an act of vengeance. God will judge them in the end. For the other Holy Orthodox Churches around the world, it is not a difficult decision. If you stay in communion with the schismatics (Bartholomew included), you will be an accomplice to the murder and bloodshed which will ensue in Ukraine. There must be a united front against this abominable chapter in the history of our great Church. I beg you holy hierarchs....please do not find yourselves on the wrong side Church history!

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