Press Statement
Press Statement by the head of the Working Group of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for preparation of the dialogue with the representatives of the UOC-KP Archbishop Mytrofan of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav, Administrator of the UOC
On September 9, 2009, the Holy Synod of the UOC set up a working group for preparation of the dialogue with the representatives of the UOC-KP (Journal No.45). On October 2, 2009, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine this working group met with the representatives of the UOC-KP. The meeting was held on the premises of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
This meeting was not the first official contact between our Church and the representatives of the UOC-KP. As early as December 15, 2007, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr received at his residence the representatives of the UOC-KP, who had handed to His Beatitude the “Address of the Episcopate of the UOC-KP to the Bishops, Clergy and Faithful of the UOC (in composition of the Moscow Patriarchate)”. On July 16, 2008 the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church published the response to this address, which read: “Being aware of the necessity of the quickest overcoming of the ecclesiastical schisms in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is ready for constructive dialogue and cooperation with all the interested parties, including representatives of those church groups which are not in communion with the Universal Orthodoxy”.
The initiatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, aimed at overcoming the ecclesiastical splits in Ukraine were supported by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, which worked on June 24-29, 2008. In its definition “On the Church Unity” the Council “approved the efforts undertaken by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for overcoming of the schism through the dialogue with those who seceded from the communion with it”. Also His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the time of his visit to Ukraine in 2009 repeatedly pointed out the necessity of seeking the ways of overcoming the church schisms through the dialogue.
In the course of the meeting on October 2, 2009 there was an exchange of ideas regarding the principles of establishment of the dialogue between our Church and the representative of the UOC-KP. The discussion that took place is rendered in the record issued, which will be submitted for consideration of the Holy Synod. It should be noted in particular that the meeting held does not imply the beginning of the official dialogue with the UOC-KP, but is a first step on the way of its preparation.
The purpose of the future dialogue with the representatives of the UOC-KP is overcoming of the tragic ecclesiastical split existing in Ukraine. The division is a painful wound that needs to be healed. The existing division causes significant harm to the Orthodox mission in modern Ukraine and works for expansion of the new religious movements of destructive character. Today in the Ukrainian society there is a demand for the ideas of reunification. Therefore the Ukrainian Orthodox Church attempts to provide an important impetus for the social reunification processes as well.
The fundamental principle of the future dialogue was clearly defined on July 16, 2008, in the response of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the “Address of the Holy Synod and Episcopate of the UOC-KP”: “At the same time, for the dialogue to be constructive and to lead to the result desired – the unification of all the orthodox people of Ukraine into one Church, it must be conducted proceeding from certain principles, i.e. keeping to the canonical rules of the Universal Orthodox Church.” Secession from the canonical Tradition of the Church will lead just to degradation of the ecclesiastical canonical consciousness, which will bring about even more catastrophic consequences for the Church”. This important statement of the Holy Synod is a guideline for our workgroup.
At the same time it should be noted that any kind of dialogue implies mutual respect of the parties. Therefore today we are to overrun the confrontation that unfortunately had always cast shadow over our relations with the UOC-KP. The Council of Bishops of the UOC of December 21, 2007 called the faithful “to treat those brothers and sisters of ours who still temporary stay out of the salutary Church fencing with Christian love and without enmity”.
We are satisfied with the meeting that took place today and hope that the future dialogue will facilitate healing the church split in Ukraine.
Being aware of the importance of this process, let’s ask the Lord for wisdom, power and patience.
