The scientific secretary of the Kyiv Theological Academy and the Seminary Archimandrite Mitrofan (Bozhko), analyzing the conclusion of a religious examination, noted that the status of the UOC in which exceeds the level of independence of formally autocephalous churches.

He noted that in accordance with the decisions of the Council of the UOC dated May 27, 2022 and the new version of its charter on management, as well as real liturgical and business practice, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine is elected by the Bishop of the UOC; He commemorates the divine liturgy of the Primate of the Local Orthodox Churches, which did not support the intervention of Constantinople in its canonical territory.

“The Holy Synod elects and appoints bishops, who are dedicated to Ukrainian bishops, led by Metropolitan of Kyiv; The Holy Synod forms new dioceses, changes their boundaries, and these decisions are subject to approval by the Council of Bishops of the UOC; The Cathedral of the bishops is a court of higher instance in the UOC, ”added the clergyman.

Archimandrite Mitrofan also noted that the Holy Synod on November 23, 2022 decided to resume world peace in Kyiv. Metropolitan of Kiev is responsible for inter -Orthodox, inter -Christian and inter -religious relations, which are carried out by the department of external church ties created back in 1992. The reality of these relations is confirmed by the participation of the Ukrainian episcopate and clergy in joint events with representatives of local churches in Ukraine and abroad, and especially after the start of the war – in the assistance in organizing the spiritual custody of Ukrainians abroad. To this, you can add direct custody of the diaspora, which has recently become another marker of autocephaly.

“So, without using the concept of autocephaly, but the expressions“ complete independence and independence ”, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church fills them with real content, which, in a number of positions, exceeds the level of independence of formally autocephalous churches,” summed up the scientific secretary of the Kiev Theological Academy and the Seminary.

“Is it necessary to add the absence of any norms to this that would testify to the participation of the bishop, clergy or believers of the UOC in any organs of a different local church, in this case- the Russian Orthodox Church?” He remarked finally.