Moscow Ponders Independence for Ukrainian Church

VATICAN, Apr. 18, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Russian Orthodox Church is prepared to grant independent status to the Ukrainian Orthodox bishops who are affiliated with Moscow.

In an interview with the Italian daily Avvenire, an official of the Moscow Patriarchate said that the Russian Orthodox Church foresaw "an evolution leading to autocephalous status for the Ukrainian Church." That development would be "normal and justifiable," said Nikolai Balashov.

However, the Russian official also observed that the Orthodox bishops of Ukraine are "not unanimous" in their support for independent status. Some bishops wish to remain under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, Balashov said.

The Orthodox Church in Ukraine is currently split into three factions. The Moscow Patriarchate recognizes only one of these factions, and characterizes the other two-which do not recognize the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate-- as "schismatic." Balashov's remarks involved only the Orthodox bishops who remain loyal to Moscow.

There are about 12 million Orthodox believers under the leadership of Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev, the prelate recognized by Moscow as spiritual leader of the Ukrainian faithful. His chief rival, Patriarch Filaret of Kiev, has about 6 million followers. There are also nearly 6 million Catholics in the country, most of them members of the Byzantine-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Questioned by Avvenire about Moscow's opposition to the scheduled June visit by Pope John Paul II to Ukraine, Balashov remarked: "No one denies the Pope's right to visit any country, but if the head of the Church of Rome meets with the schismatic representatives of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, that would have a negative affect on the community of Orthodox faithful."

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
18. april 2001