The Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the Council), which took place on May 27, 2022 in Kyiv, considered the issues of church life that arose as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. As a result of the work, the Council adopted the following:

    The council condemns war as a violation of God’s commandment “Thou shalt not kill!” (Ex. 20:13) and expresses condolences to all who suffered in the war.

    The Council appeals to the authorities of Ukraine and the authorities of the Russian Federation with a request to continue the negotiation process and the search for a strong and reasonable word that could stop the bloodshed.

    We express our disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus regarding the war in Ukraine.

    The Council adopted appropriate additions and amendments to the Statute on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, testifying to the complete self-management and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

    The council had reflections on the resumption of cooking the myrrh in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

    For a period of martial law, when ties between the dioceses and the Church’s governing center are complicated or absent, the Council considers it appropriate to give diocesan bishops the right to independently make decisions on certain issues of diocesan life that fall within the competence of the Holy Synod or the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, subsequent, upon restoration opportunities, informing the hierarchy.

    Recently, a new pastoral challenge has been especially acute for our Church. During the three months of the war, more than 6 million citizens of Ukraine were forced to go abroad. These are mainly Ukrainians from the southern, eastern and central regions of Ukraine. A significant part of them are faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Therefore, appeals from different countries come to the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with requests to open the Ukrainian Orthodox parishes. It is obvious that many of our compatriots will return to their homeland, but quite a few will remain for permanent residence abroad. In this regard, the Council expresses its deep conviction that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cannot leave its faithful without spiritual care, it must stand by their side in their trials and organize church communities in the Diaspora. It is necessary to develop the mission abroad further among Orthodox Ukrainians in order to preserve their faith, culture, language and Orthodox identity.

    Aware of the special responsibility before God, the Council expresses deep regret over the lack of unity in the Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The Council perceives the existence of a schism as a deep painful wound in the church body. It is especially unfortunate that the recent actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople in Ukraine, which resulted in the formation of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, only deepened misunderstandings and led to physical confrontation. But even in such crisis circumstances, the Council does not lose hope for the resumption of dialogue. In order for the dialogue to take place, the OCU representatives need to:

    stop the seizure of churches and forced transfers of parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

    realize that their canonical status, as it is fixed in the “Charter of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, is in fact non-autocephalous and significantly inferior to the freedoms and opportunities in the implementation of church activities, which are provided for by the Charter on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

    to resolve the issue of the canonicity of the OCU hierarchy, because for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as for most Local Orthodox Churches, it is quite obvious that in order to recognize the canonicity of the OCU hierarchy, it is necessary to restore the apostolic heredity of its bishops.

    The Council expresses its deep conviction that the key to the success of the dialogue should be not only the desire to restore church unity, but also a sincere desire to build one’s life on the basis of Christian conscience and moral purity.

    Summing up the results of the work done, the Council presents a prayer of thanksgiving to the Merciful Lord for the opportunity of fraternal fellowship and expresses hope for an end to the war and reconciliation of the warring. According to the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian, may there be “grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” with all of us, especially brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ (2 Jn. 1:3).

    Earlier it was reported that the decision to hold the Local Council was made on the same day at a meeting in Kyiv.