OCU - Filaret friendly fire continues

(Romfea) - On Monday, June 24, 2019, the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine met under the presidency of Metropolitan Epiphanius in Kiev.

The Holy Synod discussed about the “Local Synod” that convened under the presidency of the honorable “Patriarch” on Thursday, June 20 and, by decision, removed the administration of the Metropolis of Kiev and handed it to Metropolitan Epiphanius.

“Filaret remains in the Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, however, he has lost his canonical rights and duties concerning the administration of the Metropolis of Kiev,” states inter alia the decision of the Holy Synod, which also annulled the decision of February 2019, according to which honorary “Patriarch” Filaret remained the Head of the Province of Kiev, preserving all the Churches he owned.

“Honorable ‘Patriarch’ Filaret can address the Holy Synod, by sending a letter to Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev, to discuss his future position in the Orthodox Church of Ukraine together,” the decision adds.

Finally, the Holy Synod asserts that the entire body of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev, as well as the entire body of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, following the United Synod of December 15, 2018, merged into a single Orthodox Church of Ukraine, so, any mandate or any other document issued on behalf of the Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev or under the name of its statutes, is not valid and cannot be enforced.