Ukraine has belonged to the Russian Church, and this is a historical fact. Such a point of view was voiced by the well-known patrologist and theologian, the honorary chairman of the International Institute of Athos Heritage, a bishop of the Constantinople Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) in the program “Theologian’s Word”.
“Though I am a metropolitan of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I am not at all happy about the position taken by Patriarch Bartholomew. With all due respect to my Patriarch, I am bound to say that I agree with the view expressed by the Patriarchate of Moscow that Ukraine belongs to the Russian Church. After all, the Metropolis of Kiev by an agreement of 1676 [1686—OC] was transferred from the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to that of the Patriarchate of Moscow. So, for 330 years Ukraine has been part of the Russian Church,” said the representative of the Constantinople Church.
Met. Kallistos then objects to the unilateral character of such actions—here specifically the abolishing of the 1686 documents, and adds: “This is a fact of history that Ukraine has belonged to the Russian Church.”
He also notes that giving autocephaly to Philaret Denisenko and Makary Maletich, the leaders of the “Kiev Patriarchate” and the “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church” respectively, whom Met. Kallistos calls “schismatic bishops,” is a mistake.
However, Met. Kallistos also cannot agree with the Russian Church’s response to Constantinople’s actions: “At the same time, I am troubled by the actions of the Patriarch of Moscow, Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Church. I am disturbed that they have broken off communion with Constantinople. I believe this discussion of the position in Ukraine needs to be considered in the spirit of brotherly love without any breaking of communion. So, in that way I cannot agree entirely with either side. And I do pray that somehow there may be a reconciliation.”
And again, in harmony with so many other voices from around the Orthodox world, Met. Kallistos suggests that the proper course of action is to call a pan-Orthodox meeting of the primates—not just of Constantinople and Moscow, he specifies—and perhaps even an extension of the 2016 Council of Crete.
Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Dioklia is a professor of theology at Oxford University, head of the board of directors of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, and an honorary doctor of the Church’s postgraduate and doctoral studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius. His most famous book, “The Orthodox Church”, which first saw the light in 1963, was reprinted several times in different languages.
The fact that none of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches has recognised the Tomos of autocephaly for Ukraine speaks volumes for probable error on the part of Constantinople. Metropolitan Kallistos is correct to on both counts. Ukraine is deserving of autocephaly but current actions have not advanced that cause for most of Orthodoxy, but rather have created a serious rift between the oldest and the largest patriarchates. While having some sympathy with Moscow, I believe that their response is both wrong and unhelpful. The Holy Eucharist is not a weapon to be used in such a manner. May His holy Wisdom prevail, we must all pray for resolution of this.
Ukraine is an independent nation-state. She does not “belong” to anyone. Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, etc. “belonged” to the PoC, yet when they attained political independence, they subsequently also received ecclesiastical “independence”, i.e., autocephaly. Willy-nilly, but the PoC let them go. But the MP refuses to let Ukraine go her own way because this will destroy Russia’s dream of being an empire. The problem has simmered for 30 years (and many years before that!). Why didn’t the MP solve the “problem” before? Why didn’t they ask for a Pan-Orthodox Synaxis meeting to help millions of souls? Because really they are only interested in power, wealth, etc. They hate Ukraine, Ukrainians, the Ukrainian language, and culture. They refuse to acknowledge that Ukrainians are not Russians and have no desire to be Russian. They want to solve the problem and preserve pan-Orthodox unity? LET UKRAINE AND THE UKRAINIAN CHURCH GO!!!
Just a factual correction, Metropolitan Kallistos has never been a Professor of Theology at Oxford University. He was Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Orthodox Studies for 35 years until his retirement, and served for a year as Chairman of the Faculty of Theology (not itself a professorial appointment). He is no longer head of the Board of Directors at the Cambridge Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies.