On February 5, 2022, a meeting of the Synod of the UOC-KP was held, during which those present considered the decision of the Synod of the OCU regarding the three hierarchs of the “Kyiv Patriarchate”. This was reported on the official website of the UOC-KP.

“Regarding the attempt to ban the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate – Metropolitan Joasaph of Belgorod and Oboyan, Archbishop Philaret of Falesti and East Moldova, Bishop Peter of Valuyki, Bishop Avxentius of Chersonesos and Volnovakha, and Bishop Chrysostomos of Mariupol and Feodosia, we remind you that the aforementioned hierarchs are the bishops of the Kyiv Patriarchate and therefore cannot be subject to the judgment of another Church. Any prohibitions against them, as well as other bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, do not have legal canonical force.

We remind the bishops of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine that they, too, are not exempt from the hierarchal oath, which they took before their consecration to the Church, represented by the elected Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret and the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. Strict adherence to the canon law of the Orthodox Church is obligatory for them, regardless of positions and titles.

In the case of persistent interference by the leadership of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which is not subordinate to them, we reserve the right to conciliary consider their actions and make canonical decisions,” the Synod of the UOC-KP said, adding the advice to be guided by the OCU “not by threats and blackmail”, but the spirit of peace and love” in our troubled times.

The Synod of the restored UOC-KP was formed on January 22, 2022.