Ukrainian Orthodox Church resumes making its own Chrism

Kiev, November 23, 2022

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From now on, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will make its own Chrism.

The relevant decision was made by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which met this morning at the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, reports the UOC’s Information-Education Department.

At its Council in late May, the UOC strengthened its independence and removed any connection to the Russian Church from its statutes, though its exact status remains unclear. At that time the possibility of making Chrism in Kiev was discussed.

In accordance with today’s decision, the Synod created a commission to work on restoring the practice of making Chrism in Kiev, headed by His Eminence Archbishop Viktor of Artsyz, vicar of the Odessa Diocese.

The report notes:

Historically, Chrism-making in the Kiev Archdiocese began in the middle of the 15th century. Later, Holy Chrism was made in the Holy Dormition Kiev Caves Lavra. Due to the revolutionary events of 1917, this practice stopped in Ukraine. The Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place on May 27, 2022 in Kiev, had considered the possibility of resuming the making of Chrism.

In view of this, the Holy Synod decided to resume Chrism-making in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In current Russian tradition, making Chrism is a major sign of autocephaly, though as the UOC Synod notes, this wasn’t always the case. Chrism was made in Kiev and other cities for centuries, even before the Patriarchate was abolished by Peter I. Chrism was last made in Kiev in 1913, and when the Russian Patriarchate was restored in 1917, Chrism began to be made only in Moscow.

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11/23/2022

Comments
Alex11/25/2022 7:03 am
Menas, I kind of agree with you. Though, I also think that once Russia dictates their terms for peace to Zelensky, one of them being to leave the canonical UOC alone, things will change. (Winter is fast approaching for Europe, and Germany and other countries will tell the U.S. to bug off, as they don't want to freeze to death for American arrogance and big miscalculations in trying to out maneuver Vladimir Putin.)
Menas 11/23/2022 6:33 pm
The UOC distancing itself from the MP by claiming autocephaly is not going to stop the Ukrainian government and schismatics from harassing them and stealing their temples. The UOC is viewed by them as Russia and the only thing they have done is cut their lifeline with the MP. I really, really pray this is not the case - and I hope the UOC is granted autocephaly by the MP - But I have serious doubts this will be to the benefit of the UOC.
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