UPTsKP SYNOD ANNOUNCES DATE OF BISHOPS' COUNCIL OF UPTsKP WHICH WILL MAKE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS IN CHARTER
The Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate (UPTsKP), which today, 6 December, met in Kiev under the chairmanship of Patriarch Filaret, discussed the process of church unification and the formation of a united local autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox church.
The Synod adopted the decision to convene a Bishops' Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate on 13 December 2018 in Kiev in order to make "pertinent decisions on the convening and conduct on 15 December 2018 of an extraordinary unification council of hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
They are talking about the fact that in its activity the UPTsKP is governed by its own charter concerning administration, which is registered by the government. Since the unification process provides for the adoption of a number of substantive charter decisions, it is necessary to convene a Bishops' Council, which is the only body that has the right to make changes and additions in the charter.
The results of joint preparatory work will be presented for the consideration and confirmation by the Bishops' Council on 13 December.
The decision has been made to continue preparation for the unification council, which will be held on 15 December. (tr. by PDS, posted 6 December 2018)
UPTsKP PREPARED TO TEMPORARILY ABANDON PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE OF NEW CHURCH—SYNODAL DECISION
The clergymen of the UPTsKP are advocating a patriarchal structure for the new, unified church, although the Kiev patriarchate is prepared to forego this dignity if circumstances require this. Such a decision was made by members of the Holy Synod of the UPTsKP today, 6 December.
"As regards the status of a patriarchate for the Ukrainian church, we think this is the status for our local church that is just, historically based, and pastorally justified. After all, it has one of the largest number of faithful, clergy, and bishops among other Orthodox churches, it has roots of its own history in the preaching of the holy apostle Andrew the First-called, and in the external circumstances and internal qualities of its existence it in no way lags behind the Bulgarian, Georgian, Russian, Romanian, and Serbian patriarchates," the resolution of the Synod says.
The hierarchs of the UPTsKP recall that they spoke out for a patriarchal structure for the church on 13 May 2016, although for the sake of the good of the cause they were ready to abandon this status for a time.
"Considering all circumstances, our church is ready, if this is required, to postpone for a certain time the request to recognize for it the dignity of a patriarchate, retaining this designation within its own bounds and for internal requirements," the members of the UPTsKP Synod note. (tr. by PDS, posted 6 December 2018)
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