Resources close to the UOC-KP published the appeal of the head of the restored “Kyiv Patriarchate” Filaret Denisenko to the Primate of the UOC, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The address of June 20, 2022 states that “the approval of the ROC of the war against Ukraine makes it impossible for this Church to continue to stay on the Ukrainian territory.”

“I joyfully welcome the decision of the Local Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by You on May 27, 2022 regarding the independent status of this Church from Moscow. I believe that it opens up unique prospects for Orthodox unification and the creation of a truly unified local Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Further division of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into three branches is a crime against the Ukrainian people. The Church is a great consolidating spiritual force capable of inspiring and supporting people in the struggle for their freedom. But she can fulfill her pastoral mission effectively only when she is united.

I propose to convene an All-Ukrainian Local Orthodox Council, in which representatives of all three branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy took part. In my opinion, this council should make a decision to unite into a single local apostolic Ukrainian Orthodox Church with patriarchal administration and proclaim full autocephaly. First, I call on representatives of confessions to meet to discuss the rules of the council and determine the date of the council.

I declare that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate will take part in such a unifying All-Ukrainian Orthodox Council in order to say to everyone: the Lord is among us!

“In this regard, I would like to meet with you, Your Beatitude, for a fraternal dialogue in the spirit of Christ’s love in order to achieve spiritual unity. I also ask you to appoint representatives to work in a joint commission that would discuss the issue of preparations for holding the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Local Council,” Filaret says.