Address of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place on May 23, 2023, on the occasion of the thirty-first anniversary of the Kharkiv Bishops’ Council and the first anniversary of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place in Kiev. Published on the official website of the UOC.
May 27, 2023 marks a year since the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is the highest body of church administration and is convened by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was held in Kiev in the St. Panteleimon Monastery in Feofaniya to resolve fundamental theological, canonical, liturgical issues. On the same day, thirty-one years ago, the Kharkiv Bishops’ Council took place, opening a new page in the history of Orthodox Ukraine. The Cathedral in Feofaniya was the answer to the difficult questions of church life that arose as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. After lengthy constructive discussions, the participants of the Council – bishops, clergy, monastics and laity – made a number of important decisions, recorded in the Resolution of the Council.
Particular attention was paid to the additions and changes made to the Statute on the administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The changes in the Charter not only expanded the possibilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as an independent and independent Church, but also became a convincing argument for refuting the numerous slanders and far-fetched accusations that have been and, unfortunately, still continue to be heard against our Church. In addition, according to the results of the work of the Cathedral, the ancient practice of cooking the Holy Myrrh was restored in Kyiv. Within a year after the Council, more than 40 Ukrainian Orthodox parishes abroad began their activities, which today are united in the Western European Vicariate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It also became the fulfillment of the conciliar decision on the need for a mission among Orthodox Ukrainians who, as a result of the war, were forced to find themselves outside the homeland, in order to preserve their faith, culture, language and Orthodox identity. The year of church life testified to the correctness of the decisions of this Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which symbolically took place exactly on the thirtieth anniversary of the historic Kharkiv Bishops’ Council. After all, it was at the Kharkiv Council for the first time in modern history that the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church testified to the ability, through common spiritual work, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, to find the right church solutions in response to today’s complex challenges.
A very serious challenge and ordeal for all of us was the war that came to our Ukrainian land more than a year ago. From the very beginning of the bloodshed in all churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, prayer has been continuously lifted up for the Ukrainian state, its territorial integrity and our soldiers, who are now fighting for the sovereignty of Ukraine. From the first days of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops on Ukrainian soil, our Church condemned this bloody war, joined in the defense of the Motherland by all possible means and blesses the faithful to defend their native Ukraine. Only our unity, and not division, mutual understanding, and not humiliation or accusation, will be able to sow the seeds of peace, which in the near future will bear the fruit of material renewal and spiritual rebirth of Ukraine.
May the All-Merciful Lord help us all to work for victory, for the sake of establishing peace and preaching love. In today’s difficult time for our Motherland, let us remember the words of God that were spoken to the holy prophet Isaiah: do not be afraid, for I am with you, do not be embarrassed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, and help you, and support you with the right hand of My truth ( Isaiah 41:10).
