UPTsKP SYNOD ANNOUNCES CONVENING OF UNIFICATION LOCAL SOBOR ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2015 IN KIEV
The question of the unification of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church into a single local Ukrainian Orthodox Church was discussed on 18 June at a session of the UPTsKP synod.
The UPTsKP synod expressed thanks to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for giving authorizations to hierarchs of the Constantinople patriarchate to be observers in the business of dialogue between UPTsKP and UAPTs concerning unification. The presence of hierarchs of the Constantinople patriarchate in the capacity of observers in the business of dialogue between UPTsKP and UAPTs concerning unification testifies to the attention and support of the unification process on the part of the Constantinople Mother-Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in the diaspora (under the omophorion of the ecumenical patriarch).
The synod confirmed the Concluding Decision of the joint session of the commissions for conducting dialogue of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church with UPTs of the Kiev patriarchate and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate with the UAPTs of 8 June 2015 and it announced the convening on 14 September 2015 in Kiev of the Unification Local Sobor.
The delegates to the Unification Local Sobor will be all bishops of UPTs of the Kiev patriarchate and one delegate for every 15 registered religious organizations in each diocese.
For preparing the Unification Local Sobor, the commission for dialogue with UAPTs has been granted authority to be participants in a joint pre-sobor commission.
The UPTsKP synod instructed Patriarch of Kiev and all-Rus-Ukraine Filaret, if necessary, to make a decision about additions or changes in the membership of the commission within the parameters of the confirmed representation of 7 persons on the part of the UPTsKP.
If necessary, Patriarch Filaret will directly or through members of the commission on dialogue interpret and explain the suggestions of the UPTsKP on issues of unification.
As a sign of respect for the UAPTs, the UPTs of the Kiev patriarchate will not in the future receive into the membership of its episcopacy bishops of the UAPTs who would want to join the UPTsKP without the consent of its hierarchy.
The UPTsKP synod suggested to the primate and bishops' council of UAPTs that in the period up to the Unification Local Sobor, ordination of new bishops be suspended both in UPTsKP and in UAPTs, as well as expansion of the episcopate of UPTsKP and UAPTs by means of receiving bishops from other jurisdictions (with the exception of receiving bishops ordained in the Moscow patriarchate).
The synod instructed Patriarch of Kiev and all-Rus-Ukraine Filaret to send to the UAPTs, in the name of the Holy Synod, an explanation of the position of the Kiev patriarchate in the business of unification. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 June 2015)
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