20.04.2007, [11:18] // UOC-KP // risu.org.ua
Kyiv – On 15 April 2007, the Sobor [Assembly] of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) was held. It adopted a Historical-Canonical Declaration, including an assessment of the UOC-KP’s relations with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).
Hierarchs of the church spoke at the sobor, and representatives of the intelligentsia were present, as well.
At the end of the session, the sobor unanimously voted to adopt the declaration with approved amendments. Also, the bishops decided to call a 2nd All-Ukrainian Forum for a National Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In his interview for “Economic News,” Archimandrite Yevstratii (Zoria), press secretary of the UOC-KP, reported that the declaration, consisting of 96 pages, provides a detailed description of the main problems in relations between the UOC-KP and the UOC-MP and remarks concerning historical violations of Orthodox dogmas and canons by the UOC-MP.
According to Archimandrite Yevstratii, this is the first time that the UOC-KP has adopted a document of such importance. “Taking into consideration that the UOC-MP is afraid to conduct a dialogue with us directly and openly, which has been suggested many times both by us and by Ukrainian President [Viktor Yushchenko], the UOC-KP does not see any other way but to conduct it by correspondence,” he said.
Contrary to the practice that theological disagreements should be conducted inside the church, this time the UOC-KP’s hierarchs consider that the statements of the declaration should be released for the faithful. “We shall release our position for all the faithful, including the UOC-MP,” said Archimandrite Yevtratii. For this reason, the text of the declaration will be translated into the Russian language.
According to eizvestia.com, a public theological dialogue among hierarchs of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine can hardly be possible.
“Their hierarchal sobor and the adopted documents are nothing more than the internal affairs of their church,” said Vasyl Anisimov, press secretary of the UOC-MP. According to him, “some declaration does not bother much the UOC-MP, whose canonical status, unlike the [UOC-KP’s], can hardly be doubted by the autonomous Orthodox churches and the Pope of Rome.”
Sources:
• http://www.eizvestia.com/articles/43/0/12425/