The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience writes that “as a result of the brutal Russian attack on Ukraine and its support by the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, in particular Patriarch Kirill personally, the UOC distanced itself from the Russian Orthodox Church in accordance with the decision of the Council of the UOC on May 27.” This is stated on the website of the State Service.
“In accordance with the Charter on the management of the UOC, valid until May 27, 2022, the UOC was part of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), while at the same time having a significant degree of autonomy. As a result of the brutal Russian attack on Ukraine and its support by the leadership of the ROC, in particular Patriarch Kirill personally, the UOC distanced itself from the ROC in accordance with the decision of the Council of the UOC on May 27. According to the new Statute, the Primate of the UOC is no longer a member of the Synod of the ROC, the UOC is not guided by the decisions of the Council of Bishops of the ROC, and the elected Primate of the UOC should not receive the blessings of the Patriarch of the ROC in order to start his service at the head of the UOC. As a reaction to this decision of the UOC, the ROC annexed the parishes of the UOC in Crimea, as well as a number of others in the temporarily occupied territories. At the same time, as of today, the UOC continues to recognize its connection with the Ecumenical Orthodoxy through the ROC. While maintaining such a connection, the UOC does not carry out any formal coordination of its international activities with the ROC and denies any connection of subordination to the ROC. Despite the fact that the UOC officially informed the SESS about the change in the Charter, as of July 23, 2022, the new Charter on the management of the UOC and the explanation of the UOC on it have not been made public on the official website of the UOC,” the State Service writes.
