The hierarch of the UOC declared full independence and commented on the status of the Church after the Council in Theophany

Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohrad, rector of the Kiev Theological Schools, gave a detailed analysis of the canonical status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) on the fourth anniversary of the Theophany Council. The hierarch emphasized that the UOC functions as a fully independent structure, while maintaining eucharistic communion with the majority of Local Churches of the world.

As the Information and Education Department of the UOC reports, Archbishop Silvester in his commentary clarified the most pressing issues causing discussions. In particular, he noted that the reference to the 1990 Diploma of Patriarch Alexy II in the updated Charter is only a historical indication of the beginning of the independent existence of the UOC, and not a sign of dependence. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius had earlier officially confirmed this position in his appeals to the state authorities.

Vladyka emphasized that since May 27, 2022, the decisions of the Councils and governing bodies of the ROC have no force for the UOC. “All clauses that obliged the UOC to fulfill the resolutions of the Councils and other governing bodies of the ROC have been removed from the Statute of our Church, ” the hierarch said. He also recalled that Metropolitan Onuphrius officially terminated his membership in the Holy Synod of the ROC, which meets the requirements of Ukrainian legislation on the protection of the constitutional order.

Answering questions about the absence of officially recognized status of autocephaly, Archbishop Silvester explained that the refusal to unilaterally declare independence does not mean submission to Moscow. According to him, the UOC has all the attributes of independence: it appoints its own bishops, opens dioceses, has foreign parishes, and performs world worship. As an example, he cited the experience of the Orthodox Church in Northern Macedonia, where the presence of Eucharistic communion preceded the formal recognition of autocephaly.

In conclusion of his analysis, the Archbishop expressed the hope that world Orthodoxy will eventually duly recognize and approve the canonical independence of the UOC, which is currently not subject to any higher ecclesiastical authority of other Local Churches.