Ukrainian Orthodox Bodies May Merge, Defy Moscow

KIEV, Jun 27, 01 (FIDES/CWNews.com) - Two groups of Ukrainian Orthodox bishops are planning to unite in a single group, and seek recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, in direct defiance of the Russian Orthodox Church, the FIDES news service has reported.

The news comes as Pope John Paul II concludes a historic trip to Ukraine, in which he made fervent appeals for unity between Western and Eastern Christianity. The two groups which are now merging reacted favorably to the Pope's appeals, while the third group-- still the largest, and favored by Moscow-- actively resisted the Pope.

Until recently the Ukrainian Orthodox community was united, under the direction of the Moscow Patriarchate. However in 1993 the acknowledged Ukrainian Orthodox leader, Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev, broke from Moscow and established his own independence patriarchate.

Filaret, who was excommunicated by Moscow, now leads the Patriarchate of Kiev, which boasts 3 million faithful and is steadily growing, while the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, backed by Moscow, clings to a larger body of about 10 million faithful. A third, much smaller group, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, is headed by Metropolitan Mefody. To date, neither Filaret nor Mefody has been formally recognized by any Orthodox body outside Ukraine.

Now the Russian news agency Ria Novosti has revealed that Filaret and Mefody have sent representatives to Constantinople, seeking recognition as the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Such recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarchate would quickly lead to acceptance by other Orthodox bodies around the world; it would also be a direct blow to Moscow's authority.

According to Russian news reports, FIDES says, the two Orthodox leaders are continuing their discussions with Contantinople, and will meet again on July 6. One report goes so far as to say that the two prelates have agreed on a leader for the new Orthodox union: Archbishop Vsevolod Skopelsky, who is known to be close to the Byzantine-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The Moscow Patriarchate has refused to comment on the potential merger, issuing only a cryptic comment that "the Patriarchate of Constantinople has not notified Moscow of any agreement."

Catholic World News - Feature
27. juni 2001