P.Ts.U. PUT A STOP TO ACTIVITY BY VLADYKA FILARET AS MEMBER OF SYNOD AND FORBADE HIM TO DO ANY ORDINATIONS
In the Congregation Hall of the Kiev Orthodox Theological Academy, a session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine—PTsU) was held under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Epifany on 4 February 2020.
All members of the Synod participated in the session except Honorary Patriarch Filaret, who was absent without legitimate reason, the official website of the PTsU reports.
After reviewing the current activity of Honorary Patriarch Filaret and taking into account his special services in the past for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod yet again concluded that Honorary Patriarch Filaret remains a member of the episcopate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, although he has lost his canonical rights and duties associated with administering a diocese.
In light of his absence for six sessions of the Holy Synod in a row, and his baseless refusal to participate in the session of the Holy Synod despite a written invitation, it was decided to put a stop to the authority of Honorary Patriarch Filaret as a member of the Holy Synod.
The Synod concluded that Honorary Patriarch Filaret, as a retired bishop, is canonically prohibited from performing any consecrations. Clergy appointed bishops by him in a nonstatutory manner are not such and everything done for them and by them is all invalid (see Rule 4 of the Second Ecumenical Council).
It was decided to remind Honorary Patriarch Filaret and his entourage about the call of the Bishops' Council for reconciliation and termination of self-isolation. (tr. by PDS, posted 5 February 2020)
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