Resolutions of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of May 27, 2022

The Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (hereinafter – the Council), which was held on May 27, 2022 in Kyiv, considered issues of church life that arose as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. As a result of its work, the Council adopted the following:

1. The Council condemns the war as a violation of God’s commandment “Thou shalt not kill!” (Ex. 20:13) and expresses condolences to all those who have suffered in the war. 

2. The Council appeals to the authorities of Ukraine and to the leadership of the Russian Federation to continue the negotiation process and to seek a strong and wise word that could stop the bloodshed.

3. We express our disagreement with the position of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ regarding the war in Ukraine.

4. The Council adopted the relevant additions and amendments to the Statute on the Governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which testify to the full self-sufficiency and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

5. The Council affirms the resolutions of the Councils of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the decisions of the Holy Synods of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church whose sessions were held in the period after the previous Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (July 8, 2011). The Council approves the activity of the Chancery and Synodal Institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

6. The Council considered the question of resuming the consecration of holy chrism in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

7. During the period of martial law, when communication between dioceses and the church’s governing center is complicated or absent, the Council deems it appropriate to grant diocesan hierarchs the right to make independent decisions on certain issues of diocesan life that fall within the competence of the Holy Synod or the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with subsequent notification of the ecclesiastical authorities once circumstances allow.

8. In recent times, a new pastoral challenge has become particularly acute for our Church. Over three months of war, more than six million citizens of Ukraine have been forced to go abroad — mainly from the southern, eastern, and central regions of Ukraine. A significant part of them remain faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Therefore, the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been receiving requests from various countries to open Ukrainian Orthodox parishes. It is obvious that many of our compatriots will return home, but many will also stay abroad permanently. In this regard, the Council expresses its deep conviction that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cannot leave its faithful without spiritual care, must remain close to them in their trials, and organize church communities in the diaspora. It is necessary to further develop the mission abroad among Orthodox Ukrainians to help them preserve their faith, culture, language, and Orthodox identity.

9. Realizing its special responsibility before God, the Council expresses deep regret over the lack of unity within Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The existence of schism is perceived by the Council as a deep and painful wound in the body of the Church. It is especially regrettable that the recent actions of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in Ukraine, which resulted in the formation of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, have only deepened misunderstandings and led to physical confrontation. Yet even under such crisis circumstances, the Council does not lose hope for the renewal of dialogue. In order for such dialogue to take place, representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine must:

• cease the seizure of churches and the forcible transfer of parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;
• recognize that their canonical status, as defined in the “Statute of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” is in fact non-autocephalous and significantly inferior in freedom and capacity for church activity to what is provided in the Statute on the Governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;
• resolve the issue of the canonicity of the OCU hierarchy, for to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as to most Local Orthodox Churches, it is evident that recognition of the canonicity of the OCU hierarchy requires the restoration of apostolic succession among its bishops.

The Council expresses its firm conviction that the success of dialogue depends not only on the desire to restore church unity but also on a sincere striving to build one’s life on Christian conscience and moral purity.

10. Summing up the work done, the Council offers a thanksgiving prayer to the Merciful Lord for the opportunity of brotherly communication and expresses hope for the end of the war and the reconciliation of those in conflict. According to the words of Saint Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, may “grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, be with us in truth and love” (2 John 1:3), especially with our brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ.