New schism in the UOC-KP

A new schism has occurred in the UOC-KP, led by Filaret Denisenko. On October 12-13, 2024, a conference of the European Deanery of the Kyiv Patriarchate was held in Cologne, during which, contrary to the procedure established by the organization, the former head of the UOC-KP structures in Europe, Vladimir Chaika, who was dismissed by Filaret Denisenko on March 25, 2024, was promoted to the status of “bishop”. After that, “Bishop” Volodymyr Chaika founded a new structure called the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Europe, for which he was defrocked and expelled from the UOC-KP by the decision of the Synod of Filaret’s organization. This is reported by the media.

“Archpriest Volodymyr Chaika, who was dismissed by His Holiness Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine from his position as Dean of the European Deanery on March 25, 2024, grossly violated the canonical rules and the Charter of the Church. After his dismissal, Archpriest Volodymyr secretly and without the blessing of the ruling bishop achieved the illegal “ordination” of three clerics as persons who call themselves “bishops” but do not have legal ordination. Also wishing to realize his own ambitions, Archpriest Vladimir Chaika in October 2024 arbitrarily organized a so-called “conference” at which, as a married priest, he received an illegal “bishop’s ordination” from persons who call themselves “bishops” but do not have legal ordination,” — the decision of the Synod of the UOC-KP reads.

Following the incident, the “Kyiv Patriarchate” decided to “defrock” and expel Volodymyr Chaika from the UOC-KP, and the European Exarchate of the UOC-KP was directly subordinated to Filaret Denisenko.

“For gross violation of the priestly oath, disobedience to the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine and the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, violation of the canonical order in the Orthodox Church and deliberate evasion into schism, on the basis of the 10th and 11th rules of the Council of Carthage, Canon 39 of the Holy Apostles, Canons 4 and 6 of the First Ecumenical Council, Canon 28 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, Canon 3 of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, Canon 19 of the Council of Antioch and Canon 13 of the Council of Carthage, to defrock Archpriest Volodymyr Chaika and expel him from the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate. To inform that the schismatic group headed by Volodymyr Chaika, who is called the “Primate of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Europe,” has nothing to do with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate and is an unauthorized and non-canonical assembly. To call Volodymyr Chaika to repentance for crimes against the Church, to leave the management of the parishes of the European Deanery of the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate in the direct subordination of Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine as the ruling bishop,” — the decision reads.

As reported, on June 20, 2024, the UOC-KP, led by Filaret Denisenko, celebrated the fifth anniversary of its break with the OCU. The organization claims that five years ago they managed to keep the “Kyiv Patriarchate” from being dependent on Constantinople.