RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


 Moscow church alarmed by Ukraine parliament

SUPREME SOVIET OF UKRAINE ASKS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO GRANT AUTOCEPHALY TO ORTHODOX CHURCH IN UKRAINE

RISU 8 June 2016

 

On 7 June a draft of a resolution was registered in the Rada, which concerned an appeal of the Supreme Soviet [Verkhovna Rada] of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, for granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

 

This was reported on the website of the Verkhovna Rada. The draft of the resolution was registered under number 4793.

 

It was initiated by people's deputies Andrei Paruby, Sergei Vysotsky, Andrei Levus, Nikolai Kniazhitsky, Maria Matios, and Victor Elensky.

 

The people's deputies intend to appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew for granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

 

The text of the draft of the resolution is still not accessible on the website of the Supreme Soviet. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 June 2016)

 

UPTs: RADA PLAN TO ASK PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW TO RECOGNIZE SCHISMATICS IS ABSURD

RIA Novosti, 9 June 2016

 

A possible appeal by deputies of the Rada to Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew requesting autocephaly for the so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate is unconstitutionally absurd, the head of the press service of the canonical UPTs of the Moscow patriarchate, Vasily Anisimov, told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

 

Previously on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a report appeared that members of parliament are considering the introduction of a draft of an appeal to Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew requesting recognition of the schismatics of the so-called Kiev patriarchate (KP). According to the logic of the draft, because the "majority of the population of Ukraine already does not accept the idea of church unity" with Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill, the lawmakers have decided to appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew for help.

 

The Rada intends to ask him to recognize as of no effect the act of 1686 whereby the Kiev metropolitanate was transferred from the Constantinople church into the jurisdiction of the Moscow patriarchate. The lawmakers also want the ecumenical patriarch to participate in "overcoming the consequences of church division by means of the convocation of an all-Ukrainian unification council under the aegis of the ecumenical patriarchate, which would resolve all disputed issues and unite Ukrainian Orthodoxy." Thus the deputies are planning to seek from the primate of the Constantinople church autocephaly for the schismatic KP, so that "it will be able to take a respected place in the family of local Orthodox churches."

 

"Such a suggestion is absurd. First, it is unconstitutional; second, it is clear that the initiators of this appeal to Patriarch Bartholoew have nothing to do with the Orthodox church and they are trying to raise their approval rating for militant atheism," Anisimov declared.

 

In his opinion, this appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew is a crime, and its initiators should be held criminally responsible, since they are interfering in the internal affairs of the church, which is separated from the state by constitutional legislation.

 

At the present time in Ukraine there is the canonical UPTsMP, which is a self-administering church within the Moscow patriarchate, and also church structures that are not recognized by world Orthodoxy, the KP and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. At the same time the UPTsP has frequently reported instances of harassment of clergy and seizures of Orthodox churches by representatives of the KP.  (tr. by PDS, posted 9 June 2016)

 

DOCUMENT:  RESOLUTION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE

 

Concerning an appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, for granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

 

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolves:

 

1. To approve the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch regarding granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

2. To authorize the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to send without delay the text of the appeal to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch.

3. The present resolution will take effect on the day of its adoption. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 June 2016)

 

Ukrainian original posted on website of Verkhovna Rada, 8 June 2016

 

DOCUMENT: EXPLANATORY NOTE

to draft of the resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "Concerning an appeal of the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch regarding granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

 

1. Reason for the necessity of adoption of the act:

Because of the aggression of the Russian federation against Ukraine and the occupation of a part of Ukrainian territory, the majority of the population of Ukraine already does not accept the idea of ecclesiastical unity with His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, who performs a not insignificant role in the hybrid war that is continuing against Ukraine. It is because of this that the acquisition by the Orthodox Church in Ukraine of autocephaly has become a critical matter.

2. Goals and aims of the act:

The goal of the draft of a resolution is an appeal by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch for granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The draft of the resolution has the goal of hastening the change of status of the Ukrainian church and confirming its independence from an aggressor state.

3. General characterization and main provisions of the act:

The draft of the resolution contains the text of an appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch about granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

The Supreme Soviet of Ukraine sends to the ecumenical patriarch the request:

--to recognize as of no effect the act of 1686 as such, which was adopted in violation of the sacred canons of the Orthodox church;

--to take an active part in overcoming the consequences of church division by means of convoking under the aegis of the ecumenical patriarch a Ukraine-wide unification council which would resolve all disputed matters and unite Ukrainian Orthodoxy;

--for the sake of the welfare of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the integrity of the Ukrainian people, to issue a tomos regarding the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, on the basis of which it will be able to take a respected place in the family of local Orthodox churches.

4. Status of legal basis within the given sphere of legal regulation:

The adoption of the resolution does not create a need to make changes in other legislative acts.

5. Financial and economic assessment:

Implementation of the resolution does not require allocation of addition funds from the state budget of Ukraine.

6. Prediction of the social and economic, and other, consequences of adoption of the act:

Quantitative indicators of the life of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine provide evidence that this church has not only achieved the level of existence necessary for autocephaly, but would become the most numerous Orthodox church in the world if it will be able to overcome existing division. An independent Ukraine needs its own autonomous church, independent from an aggressor state. In addition, it is impermissible to use the church as an instrument of hybrid war.

 

The adoption of the resolution will facilitate the resolution of ecclesiastical problems in Ukraine and revive dialogue concerning the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 June 2016)

 

Ukrainian original posted on website of Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, 8 June 2016

 


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