Journals of the Session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Journals of the Session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of September 9, 2009
Journal No. 43
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine-
HEARD: the information of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the pastoral visit to Ukraine of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on July 27-August 5, 2009.
Reference: On July 27-August 5 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill came with a pastoral visit to Ukraine. Upon arrival to the Ukrainian land His Holiness the Patriarch conducted the prayer service at St. Volodymyr’s Hill at the monument of the Holy and Equal-to-the Apostles Prince Volodymyr. Upon completion of the prayer service His Holiness the Patriarch made way to the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where he was met by the brethren with the Deputy Abbot of Lavra, His Eminence Pavel, Archbishop of Vyshgorod. The same day Patriarch Kirill presided over the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church which had first taken place at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. In the afternoon the Patriarch met with the President of Ukraine V.A. Yushchenko and took part in the ceremony of laying flowers to the monuments of Glory and the victims of the Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) 1932-1933. The same day in the evening his Holiness the Patriarch conducted the All Night Vigil service at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the eve of the commemoration of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr.
On July 28, the commemoration of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr His Holiness Patriarch Kirill conducted the Divine Liturgy in concelebration of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr and the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the square before the cathedral of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, upon completion of which the sacred procession to the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was held, where His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the numerous pilgrims with the archpastoral word and gave them all his blessing from the balcony of the Kyiv Metropolis office. The same day in the evening the Patriarch took part in the live broadcast at the Dovzhenko Film Studio.
On July 29 at the refectory church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra there was held the meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the bishops, clergy, monastic and laity, teachers and students of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, representatives of the intellectuals. By the decision of the Academic Council of the Kyiv Theological Academy His Holiness was conferred the Diploma and Doctoral Cross of the honorary Doctor of Theology of the Kyiv Theological Academy. The Patriarch addressed all those present with archpastoral word.
In the afternoon His Holiness the Patriarch called to the Holy Protection Convent of Kyiv, following which he set off to Donetsk.
In Donetsk His Holiness visited the Cathedralof Transfiguration of our Savoir and performed rite of the lesser blessing of the cathedral.
On July 30 His Holiness the Patriarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra in concelebration with the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine and the hierarchs of the UOC on the occasion of celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God of Svyatogorsk. The same day His Holiness the Patriarch attended the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Horlivka, where he conducted the prayer service.
On July 31 His Holiness called to the Sts. Nicholas and Basil Monastery and performed the rite of the lesser blessing of the Cathedral of the Holy Dormition. The same day the Patriarch arrived to Simferopol, where at the Holy Trinity Convent he conducted the prayer service unto the relics of the Holy Hierarch Luke of the Crimea, following which he visited the construction site of the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky and performed rite of blessing of the dome crosses.
On August 2, the commemoration of the Holy Prophet of God Elias His Holiness Patriarch Kirill conducted the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr and the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the hierarchs from Russia, Belarus, Moldova and foreign countries in the place of baptism of the Holy and Equal-to-the A-Apostles Prince Volodymyr – in Chersonese.
In the afternoon His Holiness Patriarch Kirill arrived to Kyiv by plane and headed for the Holy Trinity Stauropegial Convent in Korets, where he was met by hegumeness Raphaela with nuns of the convent and numerous parishioners. His Holiness performed the prayer service and the memorial Litia for the deceased abbesses of the convent. His Holiness also visited the Choirmaster Catechization School at the monastery.
On August 3 His Holiness the Patriarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Convent. The same day he attended the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Rivne and the St. Nicholas Convent of Horodok and made his way to Lutsk. In Lutsk His Holiness attended the Church of All Saints Who Shone in the Lands of Volyn, where he was met by the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Lutsk, headed by His Eminence Nyphont of Kutsk and Volyn.
In the evening His Holiness arrived to the Holy Dormition Stauropegial Svyatogorsk Convent of Zimne.
On August 4 Patriarch Kirill attended the Holy Dormition Cathedral of Volodymyr-Volynskyi. In the afternoon His Holiness the Patriarch arrived to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, where he conducted the All-Night Vigil service on the eve of celebration of the 450th anniversary of bringing the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God to Volyn.
On August 5, the holiday, Patriarch Kirill presided over the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral square of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, following which he addressed His Beatitude metropolitan Volodymyr, the bishops and clergy of the UOC and numerous believers with the words of greeting on the occasion of celebration of the prominent jubilee, and blessed the new big Lavra’s bell.
The same day His Holiness the Patriarch and the accompanying persons left for Moscow.
RESOLVED:
1. To take the information into account..
2. To raise thanksgiving prayers to Allmighty God for a possibility of prayerful communion with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
3. To extend gratitude to His Holiness for the visit to Ukraine and the spiritual support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
4. To express gratitude to President of Ukraine V.A. Yushchenko, Prime-Minister of Ukraine Yu.V.Tymoshenko, Minister of Internal Affairs Yu.V.Lutsenko, Kyiv city mayor L.M.Chernovetskyi, heads of the local regional public administration of Donetsk, Volyn, Rivne, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea A.P.Hrytsenko, Sebastopol city mayor S.V.Kunitsyn for promotion of preparation and conduct of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Ukraine.
5. To express gratitude to the Synodal Commission for Preparation of the visit to Ukraine of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, headed by His Eminence Metrophanes, Archbishop of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav.
6. To express gratitude to the ruling bishops of the Dioceses of Donetsk, Horlivka, Lutsk, Simferopol, Rivne, Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Deputy Abbots of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, Abbesses of the Holy Trinity Stauropegial Convent of Korets, the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Convent of Zimne, the Horodok St. Nicholas Convent of the Diocese of Rivne for organization of reception of His Holiness.
Journal No. 44
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
HEARD: the information of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine on celebration of the 450th anniversary of bringing the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God to Volyn on September 4-5, 2009 at the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra.
RESOLVED:
1. To take the information into account;
2. To raise thanksgiving prayers to Allmighty God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for the successful conduct of the festivities;
3. In pursuance of the decisions of the Holy Synod of July 9, 2009 (Journal No. 28) to approve the following schedule of carrying out the All-Ukraine sacred procession with the icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv:
1. September 13-21 – the city of Kyiv (Church of All Saints in the construction site of the Resurrection Cathedral);
2. September 22-October 11 – stay of the icon in Canada;
3. October 12-14 – the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra;
4. October 15 – beginning of the All-Ukraine Sacred Procession;
5. November 4-8 – stay of the icon in Moscow.
4. To appoint the co-worker of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC archpriest Valeriy Kravets as a program coordinator.
Journal No. 45
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine -The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volody-
HEARD: the information of Administrator of the UOC His Eminence Metrophanes, Archbishop of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav on the dialogue with non-canonical ecclesial structures in Ukraine.
Reference: In its session of November 22, 1995 the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church established the Synodal Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the dialogue with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Journal No.67).
On November 27, 2007 the”Council of Bishops of the UAOC” sent its Address to the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in which they appealed to continue the dialogue started in 1995.
In response to this address the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in its session of July 16, 2008 among the other things stated the following: “The desire of the UAOC to continue the further dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church deserves every approval, the aim of the dialogue being restoration of unity of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church thinks it necessary to continue the dialogue on reunification of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy.”
At the same session of the Holy Synod the response to the “Address of the Holy Synod and the episcopate of the UOC-KP to the bishops, clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in composition of the Moscow Patriarchate)” of December 14, 2007. In response of the Holy Synod it was also noted: “Realizing the necessity of the fastest overcoming of the ecclesiastical splits in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is ready for the constructive dialogue with all the interested parties, including the representatives of those religious groups which are out of communion with the Universal Orthodoxy.”
Such a stance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on overcoming of the schisms existing in Ukraine found support on the part of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during his visit to Ukraine, when His Holiness more than once stated the necessity of finding ways of overcoming splits by means of the dialogue.
RESOLVED:
1. To resume the activity of the Synodal Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the dialogue with the UAOC.
2. To approve the following composition of the Synodal commission:
1) Archbishop Metrophanes of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav, Administrator of the UOC – Chair of the Commission;
2) Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil, Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Chair of the Pedagogical Committee to the Holy Synod of the UOC, Chair of the Theological Canonical Commission to the Holy Synod of the UOC;
3) Archimandrite Kirill Hovorun, Chair of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC;
4) Archpriest Mykolai Danylevych, co-worker of the Department for external Church Relations of the UOC;
5) Archpriest Petro Zuev, head of the department for information and public relations of the Diocese of Kyiv of the UOC;
6) V.V.Burega, Assistant Rector of the Kyiv Theolgical Academy and Seminary for academic research work.
3. to create a working group in charge of preparation of the dialogue with representatives of the UOC-KP.
4. To approve the following composition of the working group:
1) Archbishop Metrophanes of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav, Administrator of the UOC – Chair of the Commission;
2) Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil, Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Chair of the Pedagogical Committee to the Holy Synod of the UOC, Chair of the Theological Canonical Commission to the Holy Synod of the UOC;
3) Archimandrite Kirill Hovorun, Chair of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC;
4) Archpriest Mykolai Danylevych, co-worker of the Department for external Church Relations of the UOC;
5) Archpriest Petro Zuev, head of the department for information and public relations of the Diocese of Kyiv of the UOC;
6) V.V.Burega, Assistant Rector of the Kyiv Theolgical Academy and Seminary for academic research work.
Journal No. 46
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
HEARD: the information of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine on aggravation of the interconfessional situation due to the cases of seizure of the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the representatives of the UOC-KP with support of the representatives of the state authorities.
Reference: From the beginning of 2009 His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr was submitted the reports of the ruling bishops of the Dioceses of Sumy, Ternopil, Bila Tserkva and Chernihiv on the attempts of seizure of the churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by representatives of the UOC-KP with the assistance of the representatives of the local state authorities. .
An attempt of seizure of the Church of Holy Protection in the village of Musorivtsi, Zbarazh district of the Ternopil region, was made at the initiative of the village chairman.
An attempt of seizure of the Church of St. Michael in the village of Karapyshi, Myroniv district of the Kyiv region was made with the assistance of the Rector of the Agrarian University of Bila Tserkva АA.S. Danylenko.
In the Diocese of Chernihiv the UOC-KP representatives had seized the Holy Protection Church in the village of Zhuklia, Koriukiv district of the Chernihiv region, under the auspices of Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations of Ukraine V.E. Ustymenko.
In the Diocese of Sumy, the village of Beevo, Lypovo-Dolynsky district of the Sumy region, on the Holy Week the seizure of the church had taken place with the assistance of the owner of the local agroindustrial firm I.I.Salo.
The tension is being increased regarding the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra. The deputies of Ternopil regional council had established temporary control commission to review legality of existence of the men’s monastery in the territory of the Pochayiv Lavra estate and on its returning into the composition of the reserve.
RESOLVED:
1. To take the information into account.
2. To express deep concern over the actions of the representatives of state authorities provoking aggravation of interconfessional situation in Ukraine and breaking constitutional rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;
3. To send respective addresses to the President of Ukraine, the Prime-Minister of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, heads of the regional state administrations and the regional councils of the regions mentioned.
Journal No. 48
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
HEARD: the report of His Eminence Ioann, Archbishop of Kherson and Tavria on opening of the Holy Protection Monastery in the village of Muzykivka, Bilozersk district, Kherson region.
RESOLVED: to bless opening of the Holy Protection Monastery in the village of Muzykivka, Bilozersk district, Kherson region.
Journal No. 49
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
HEARD: the report of His Grace Ioasaph, Bishop of Nova Kahovka and Henychesk on opening of the convent (women’s monastery) in the village of Korsunka, Nova Kahovka city of the Kherson region.
RESOLVED: to bless opening of the convent (women’s monastery) in the village of Korsunka, Nova Kahovka city of the Kherson region.
Journal No. 50
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
CONSIDERED the address of the former clergyman of the Diocese of Cherkasy Vitaly Medvedkov, deposed from the holy orders, submitted to His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine and the Holy Synod of the UOC on his restoring to the office of the priest.
Taking into account sincere penitence of Vitaly Medvedkov –
RESOLVED:
1. To restore to the office of the priest the former clergymen of the Diocese of Cherkasy Vitaly Medvedkov;
2. To appoint priest Vitaly Medvedkov under the jurisdiction of His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Uman and Zvenihorod.
Journal No. 51
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
HEARD: the information of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine on restoring the former clergyman of the Diocese of Kyiv Mykola Betsenko to the office of the priest.
Taking into account sincere penitence of Mykola Betsenko –
RESOLVED:
1. To restore to the office of the priest the former clergymen of the Diocese of Kyiv Mykola Betsenko;
2. To appoint priest Mykola Betsenko under the jurisdiction of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Journal No. 52
The session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine –
1. HEARD: the report His Eminence Onuphriy, Metropolitan of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna on deposition from the holy orders of the suspended clergyman of the Diocese of Chernivtsi priest Vyacheslav Kirutsak.
Proceeding from the submitted report, the Apostolic Canons 18, 25; the 1st Council of Neo-Caesaria, Canons 32,70 of St. Basil the Great and the application submitted –
RESOLVED: to depose from the holy orders the suspended clergyman of the Diocese of Chernivtsi priest Vyacheslav Kirutsak.
2. HEARD: the report of His Grace Symeon, Archbishop of Vinnytsia and Mohyliv-Podilskyi on deposition from the holy orders of the suspended clergyman of the Diocese of Vinnytsia archpriest Oleg Babak.
Proceeding from the submitted report, the Apostolic Canons 31, 39, 55; 14 the canon of the First-Second Council in Constantinople, for breaking into schism –
RESOLVED: to depose from the holy orders the suspended clergyman of the Diocese of Vinnytsia archpriest Oleg Babak.
† VOLODYMYR, METROPOLITAN OF KYIV AND ALL UKRAINE,
PRIMATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Members of the Holy Synod of the UOC :
† NICODEMUS, METROPOLITAN OF KHARKIV AND BOHODUKHIV
† AGATHANGEL, METROPOLITAN OF ODESSA AND IZMAIL
† IOANNIKIY, METROPOLITAN OF LUHANSK AND ALCHEVSK
† ONUPHRIY, METROPOLITAN OF CHERNIVTSI AND BUKOVYNA
† MARK, ARCHBISHOP OF KHUST AND VYNOHRADIV
† PANTELEIMON, ARCHBISOP OF KIROVOHRAD AND NOVOMYRHOROD
† SERHIY, ARCHBISHOP OF TERNOPIL AND KREMENETS
† EPHRAIM, ARECHBISHOP OF NIKOPOL AND KRYVYI RIH
† METROPHANES, ARCHBISHOP OF BILA TSERKVA AND BOHUSLAV, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UOC
