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Disagreements cast doubt over Ukrainian Orthodox unification

UNIFICATION SOBOR OF UAPTs AND UPTsKP MAY NOT OCCUR—METROPOLITAN MAKARY

RISU, 16 June 2015

 

The primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAPTs), Makary, admits that the announced unification with the Kiev patriarchate may not even occur. The reasons is that UPTsKP, according to Vladyka Makary, does not want to agree that the word "autocephalous" would be used in the church's combined name. UAPTs has not agreed with the principle of representation of delegates in the unification sobor according to which the clergy will have a lesser number of votes. This was described by the primate of UAPTs Makary in an interview with LIGABiznesInform, LIGA.Novosti reports.

 

"Now the UAPTs requires quite little: to combine the name into Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate, and to leave all bishops in their places, and that will be visible there. This would be a realistic step toward the creation of a united local church, a step toward unification. But this isn't happening," he declared.

 

"It isn't happening because Patriarch Filaret, in one of his interviews, has already declared: there will not be a combined name. He wants to preserve his own name, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate. And to simply unite us. Last week a joint commission agreed that the final decision will be made at the unification sobor on 14 September. If the representation at the sobor were 50-50, there are no questions. But if it is in the proportion that was proposed, by parishes, then they would have 400 and we, 200. Can there be such a solution?" the hierarch continued his thought.

 

Metropolitan Makary reported that now, after that interview by Patriarch Filaret, UAPTs is conducting new diocesan assemblies.

 

"If the priests by a majority of votes and the parishioners who take part in them say that they are ready to unite even on Filaret's conditions, on such quota principles, then we will do it. . . . If the diocesan assemblies by a majority of votes do not support that quota, then it cannot be," the clergyman emphasized.

 

"Negotiations will continue on the combined name. I am prepared for that. In the Lvov, Rovno, and Volyn provinces, at the assemblies, I proposed answering three questions. Do you agree to unite with the UPTsKP? Everyone said: yes. Do you agree, as originally proposed, and the government has supported, that the name Kiev patriarchate will be official, and UAPTs will be unofficial? Nobody supported this. Do you agree with combining the name? Everybody said: yes. Both at the deanery assemblies and at the diocesan council," the primate of UAPTs emphasized. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 June 2015)


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