UOC-KP supports dialogue with UOC-MP

(RISU) - The Hierarchical Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), which was convened on October 21 in Kyiv for the 15th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Ukraine, analyzed the events which took place in the Ukrainian church since the last council and passed a Council Address reflecting the position of the Kyivan Patriarchate on urgent issues.

The authors of the document stated their unanimity and unity regarding the question of the dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP): the church approves of and supports such a dialogue. “Whereas, in the Moscow Patriarchate, we can see at least several viewpoints and centers of influence, non-coordination of which is the main cause of the present state of preparation for the dialogue,” reads the address of the UOC-KP.

The council also confirmed that it completely shares the ideas and positions on various issues expressed during the period since the last council in the documents, letters, statements, and addresses of the synod and the patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine.

The document says that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate is developing and growing. “We have about 5 thousand parishes in Ukraine and abroad, which constitute 35 eparchies where over 3.5 thousand priests serve. The bishopric of the Kyivan Patriarchate includes 41 bishops. We have 6 theological educational institutions including two theological academies, in Kyiv and Lviv. The Kyivan Patriarchate has 40 monasteries, including 3 in Kyiv,” reads the address.

The hierarchy of this church has called "to continue to confidently follow the way of development of the Kyivan Patriarchate.” The bishops of the UOC-KP are convinced that the “national Ukrainian church will be recognized as an autocephalous one, will reach fullfledged communication with other sister churches and that all the present problems and troubles will become just a part of history.”