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(UOC-USA) - The current visit of our UOC of USA delegation to Ukraine as part of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops beyond the Borders of Ukraine (PCB) to the various ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Ukraine was an extremely busy one with very important discussions and prayerful homage to important Ukrainian memorials.
The first round of discussions took place in our hotel conference room with His Eminence Archbishop Ihor (Isichenko) head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Diocese of Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine. The Archbishop made the long journey to Kyiv to share the history and current status of his diocese with our American and Canadian Bishops: His Eminence Metropolitan Yurij, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and Their Graces Bishops Ilarion, Andrij and Daniel. Life in the Diocese is difficult for the clergy and faithful in the Kharkiv Region. In spite of the difficulties, the Church is still active and preaching Christ’s salvation to all.
In responding to questions from the members of the PCB and the Canadian and USA delegations, Archbishop Ihor expressed his firm conviction that unity will, indeed, come to the Church in Ukraine, although the path to that unity will be long and difficult and that it will take the cooperation of responsible and committed individuals from all of the present separate churches to build a firm foundation for strong and lasting unity. He is willing to be part of that effort, which will change the face of the Ukrainian nation.
Living in the Eastern regions of Ukraine with the separatist attacks and threats to local populations has caused much stress and apprehension amongst the population of those regions. It is not so profound as to disrupt normal life in the area, but the perceived threat seldom disappears from the conscientious thoughts of all the citizens.
Complete article here.
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"Shortly after the visit with Archbishop Ihor the USA and Canadian delegations arrived at Kyiv Pecherska Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) for a meeting with the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony (Pahanich), representing His Eminence Metropolitan Onufry, head of the Church, who was out of the city of Kyiv on Church business. Metropolitan Anthony greeted our joint delegation and expressed that theirs was the largest and the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine and that the path to ecclesiastical unity could only be accomplished through canonical means, inviting the churches in the Diaspora to join in the effort for such unity, when and if it is possible."
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