Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Archbishop Sylvester (Stoychev) told in an interview with Dialog.TUT portal why the Statute on the management of the UOC was not published.
“Indeed, the fact that the new Constitution has not been published has become the subject of numerous speculations in the information space,” the bishop noted and drew attention to several points.
“First, it is necessary to understand that the Constitution is an internal church document. In layman’s terms, it is intended for internal official use. There is no provision in the statute itself that it enters into force only after its official publication. Secondly, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a religious association does not have the status of a legal entity, therefore, according to the current legislation, the Statute of the UOC Management is not subject to state registration,” the hierarch noted.
He also added that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, in a letter addressed to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry dated July 2, 2022, once again confirmed that it is not necessary to register changes to the UOC Management Statute. That is, the state simply takes note of the Statute on the management of the UOC.
“At the same time, our Church consists of thousands of parishes and hundreds of monasteries, which are recognized as legal entities and have their own Statutes. It is these statutes that are subject to state registration and, according to the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”, enter into force from the moment of state registration,” reminded the rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary.
“And thirdly, the Statute on the management of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is now provided by the Kyiv Metropolitanate to all ruling bishops who turn to the Metropolia with such a request. In addition, the text of the Charter is published on the official website of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. That’s why it is available for everyone to familiarize themselves with,” Archbishop Sylvester emphasized.
