“Only the proclamation of autocephaly will mean the termination of the connection of UOC communities with the Russian Orthodox Church,” - expert

Dmytro Vovk, head of the Center for the Rule of Law and Religious Studies at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, spoke about what, from the state’s point of view, would be considered severing ties between the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church. Vovk is convinced that only the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church itself, can be such a step. He said this in an interview with Telegraf.

“First, this has been repeatedly declared by its authors and promoters. Secondly, the law was written specifically for the UOC. Thirdly, the state has already conducted an examination and established the fact of the connection between the ROC and the UOC, which opens the way to the liquidation of the UOC,” — the expert believes.

In addition, Vovk added that “ties with the Russian Orthodox Church” will be established not so much depending on any decisions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as on how Moscow will react to them. Even if the UOC declares autocephaly, but the Russian Orthodox Church does not recognize it, this will be enough for the state.

“Moreover, based on the provisions of the law, even autocephaly does not save the UOC from being banned if the ROC does not recognize this autocephaly. If the ROC insists that the UOC is part of the ROC, then this will be enough for the purposes of liquidation, even after the proclamation of autocephaly,” — the lawyer explained.

As reported, on August 20, 2024, the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Daniel, met with a delegation of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, headed by the US Ambassador to the Republic Kenneth Mertens, at the building of the Bulgarian Patriarchate in Sofia. The parties discussed a number of topical issues, including the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.