Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs from U.S. seek Church unity in Ukraine

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - Two hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. have recently traveled to Ukraine to meet with representatives of various Churches and Ukrainian governmental officials as part of our Church's continued efforts toward the establishment of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the independent state of Ukraine.

Archbishop Antony, ruling bishop of the Eastern Eparchy and president of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. visited Ukraine, accompanied by Hieromonk Daniel (Zelinsky), director of the Consistory Office of Public Relations, from February 28 through March 11.

The archbishop met with hierarchs of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Andrii of Ivano-Frankivsk and Archbishop Makarii of Lviv, and with clergy who serve in the UAOC Patriarchal Office in Kyiv concerning recent developments in the life of the Church.

On March 11 the archbishop met with President Viktor Yushchenko, to discuss the continued ecclesiastical struggles in Ukraine. He sought the government's assistance in resolving issues that divide the Church. The president expressed his deep desire to see a single, united Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and indicated that he will work closely with all sides, in particular the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, to bring this unity about. The archbishop also invited the president to visit South Bound Brook/Somerset, N.J. - the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. - during his then upcoming working visit to President George W. Bush in Washington, President Yuschenko expressed a sincere desire to make that visit.

Archbishop Vsevolod, ruling bishop of the Western Eparchy, visited Ukraine as a representative of the UOC-U.S.A. and, in particular, of Patriarch Bartholomew, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. The archbishop met with Patriarch Filaret, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate, with Metropolitan Volodymyr, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate and with Archbishop Makarii of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Lviv.

On March 24 Archbishop Vsevolod also met with President Yushchenko. According to a press release of the Ukrainian government, during their discussions the president stressed that his government will not directly involve itself in ecclesiastical matters. "We stand for the equality of all Churches," the president said.

The meeting also centered on the necessity of developing harmonious inter-confessional relationships on the road to the establishment of a local Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Vsevolod expressed the good wishes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to both President Yushchenko and the Ukrainian nation.

Archbishop Vsevolod made an important statement during the meeting with the president, which reflects the position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople:

"The position of the Mother Church, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, is that her daughter - the Moscow Patriarchate - consists of that territory, which it encompassed to the year 1686. The subjugation of the Kyivan Metropolia to the Moscow Patriarchate was concluded by Patriarch Dionysius without the agreement or ratification of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Great Church of Christ (the Patriarchate of Constantinople)."

On March 5, President Yushchenko, speaking at a meeting of the Our Ukraine party expressed his certain conviction that in Ukraine there will be a united Orthodox Church. On March 16, the head of Ukraine's government administration, Oleksander Zinchenko met in Istanbul (Constantinople) with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, presenting him with an invitation from President Yushchenko to visit Ukraine.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 17, 2005, No. 16, Vol. LXXIII

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