“There cannot be after the Tomos another Orthodox Church on the territory of Ukraine, except for the OCU” - MP Pavlenko

Ukrainian MP from the European Solidarity party Rostyslav Pavlenko said that even if the Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, it will not be able to function in the country until it becomes part of the OCU. The MP claims that after the Patriarch of Constantinople granted the Tomos of autocephaly to the Ukrainian schismatics, the emergence of parallel jurisdictions of the Orthodox faith in Ukraine is possible only after agreement with the OCU. He said this in an interview with the Ukrainian News.

“The Ecumenical Patriarch has repeatedly stated, and in particular in 2020 – in response to a well-known appeal from journalists – that the current episcopate of the UOC-MP is considered to be titular clergy. That is, clergymen who have a certain title but do not manage the respective dioceses and parishes. That is, they are priests, they are hierarchs, but their association is not a church. The UOC-MP is not on the diptych, the list of autocephalous Orthodox churches. The OCU, after the Tomos, is. After the Tomos, there can be no other Orthodox Church on the territory of Ukraine except the OCU. Therefore, as priests, as hierarchs, they must find some place in the OCU, with the OCU, in the process of finding this place with the OCU. What they hope for will not happen – “we will just exist”. Well, you will, but then no one will accept you. You were pointing fingers at the UOC-KP, well, I’m sorry, it will be somewhere of a similar status,” – Pavlenko said.

In addition, Pavlenko is convinced that after the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is completely banned, its representatives will not be able to register a new jurisdiction in Ukraine without the consent of the OCU. The MP believes that the existence of an Orthodox jurisdiction parallel to the OCU would not comply with the canons of the Church.

“This is then the matter of the OCU, this is then the matter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this is then the matter of all other local churches. Will they recognize it? Or will they not recognize it? You know, the UOC-MP pointed fingers at the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, calling them self-proclaimed and so on. Excuse me, but what is this, if they create it that way? The Orthodox world has canons, the Orthodox world has canonical rules, and finally, the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils. This is all a rather hierarchical system of canon law, so it will not be possible to create “just an Orthodox church” here. The question will arise: in what territories do you operate? What does Canon 34 of the Holy Apostles say? “Let the bishops of their land know the elder among them, and let him decide all matters in consultation with his bishops,” to quote close to the text. Where is the place for a “mere Orthodox Church” that “exists in parallel”? From the point of view of the state, from the point of view of secular law, you can gather 10 people and register any religious organization. You are welcome to do so, but if you want to be an Orthodox Church, which is part of the Orthodox Oikoumena, you must follow the rules. The rules are very clear. And the Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is a cornerstone for the Orthodox world in Ukraine,” – the politician added.