Ukranian Situation

[No Swansong]

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Greetings my Orthodox bretheren. I was wondering if any of you could clear something up for me. There seems to be many Ukranian jurisdictions in the U.S. all having some Succession to the Kyevian See. I have done some preliminary research on the subject and it seems there are three who claim to be the Patriarch or Kiev. Can anyone help me sort some of this out. I have been to numerous websites all claiming to be successors but cannot really make heads or tails of them.

With warmest Regards
Your brother John

 

[Suzannah]

In truth, He is RISEN!!!!

hello John! Welcome to the Ancient Way forum!

Olives? *passes olives to John*.

First, I am a little unclear as to what you mean by many "jurisdictions"? Can you clarify? The Ukranian Orthodox are in communion as far as I know, with everyone else in Orthodoxy, that is to say, it is one jurisdiction and I believe they are part of the OCA. Perhaps I am mistaken ....can you give us any more information about what you are looking for specifically? There is an online list of all cannonical jurisdictions in the US...I will try to look for it.
God bless you!

 

[Suzannah]

Hey John!

here's that list....it shows fully canonical and semi-canonical.

http://aggreen.net/autocephaly/autoceph.html

It also shows those who have swiped the term "Orthodox" and use it rather in UNORTHODOX ways....

 

[Reader Nilus]

The only Ukranian Orthodox Church in America that is canonical is: The Ukranian Orthodox Church of the United States of America.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Rick of Wessex]

Hello, John, and welcome!

Well, the situation in Ukraine is incredibly complicated. There are three Orthodox churches there, but only one of them is canonical:

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate is the former Ukrainian exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). In January 1990 it received its new name. Later that year it received "self-governance" (autonomy) though it is still canonically subject to the Moscow Patriarchate.

In May 1992 Volodymyr Sabodan, Metropolitan of Rostov and Novocherkassiy, was elected by the Ukrainian Synod as new head of the Church after the eviction of the former metropolitan, Filaret (see below). Volodymyr is still its head, with the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine.


There two other uncanonical groups, not recognized as real churches by the world Orthodoxy:

The Ukrainian Autocephalous Church (UAOC), founded in 1989 in Western Ukraine by one priest and one bishop who left the canonical church because they wanted administrative independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. Although the UAOC does not currently have official recognition from Orthodox Churches in other countries, it has made steps towards achieving canonical status.

The Orthodox Church - Kyevan Patriarchate was created in June 1992 by Metropolitan Filaret (who had been removed from the direction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate) and his supporters from a part of the episcopate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. This was encouraged by some of the civil authorities, members of parliament and various nationalist political parties. Since October 1995 Filaret has been the head of this Church, with the title Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine - because of this he was excommunicated by his Beatitude Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow.

The UOC-KP does not presently have official recognition from Orthodox Churches in other countries and so is considered uncanonical. This group is mostly a political and nationalistic organization disguised under religious trappings.

Because of this situation, the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Hope this helps.
In XC,
Rick

 

[Suzannah]

Dear Jeff and Rick of Wessex:

I have learnt so much today! thank you so much for posting these explainations!

 

[Sergius_Lucius]

Filaret wanted to be elected the Patriarch of Moscow but failed, so he decided to start his own "patriarchate", which is, as was said, political organization for those who hate Russians.

 

[No Swansong]

Thanks to all who posted. I appreciate your time and attention.

John