Hierarchs of the UOC published a statement expressing disagreement with the decisions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

On October 31, 2024, a statement by the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church appeared online, in which the hierarchs express their disagreement with the decisions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with the dismissal of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol from the post of the administrator of the Donetsk diocese. The text of the statement has already been signed by more than 30 hierarchs of the UOC. In it, the hierarchs call on the Russian Church to respect the canonical territory of the UOC and to stop dismissing UOC hierarchs in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The text of the statement was published on the Telegram channel of the Odessa diocese of the UOC.

On October 24, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to release Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol from the administration of the Donetsk diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and send him to retirement. Earlier, bishops of other dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia were released in a similar manner. These decisions were made unilaterally, without any agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is canonically independent according to the Tomos (Letter) of Patriarch Alexy II of October 27, 1990 and confirmed by the decision of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on May 27, 2022.

We, the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, strongly condemn this decision as anti-canonical, since Church law regulates canonical relations between the Orthodox Churches.

The Second Canon of the Second Ecumenical Council notes the need to respect jurisdictional boundaries, warning against any attempts by one Church to take control of the territory of another.

The Eighth Canon of the Third Ecumenical Council expressly forbids any bishop from interfering with the jurisdiction of another bishop.

In addition, this decision is aimed at undermining the autonomy of Ukraine and the very existence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the harsh conditions of military actions on the territory of Ukraine. After all, the anti-canonical release of Metropolitan Hilarion, a Ukrainian by birth, the organizer of the Donetsk diocese, the long-time archpastor in the Donetsk region, and the appointment of a Russian bishop in his place testifies to Moscow’s desire to annex the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the purpose of destruction.

We do not agree with this decision, demand its immediate abolition, and call for the rejection of aggressive ecclesiastical policy towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its long-suffering flock, respect for the borders of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church:

AGAPHANGEL, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail

ANATOLY, Metropolitan of Polessky and Sarnensky

HAGAPIT, Metropolitan of Mogilev-Podolsk and Shargorod

ALEXIUS, Metropolitan of Balti and Ananievsk

NIKODIM, Metropolitan of Zhytomyr and Novograd-Volynsk

VLADIMIR, Metropolitan of Vladimir-Volynsk and Kovel

YEVLOGIY, Metropolitan of Sumy and Akhtyrsk

FEODOR, Metropolitan of Mukachevo and Uzhgorod

VLADIMIR, Metropolitan of Kamensk and Tsarichansk

PHILARET, Metropolitan of Lviv and Galicia

NIKOLAI, Metropolitan of Kremenchug and Luben

VARSONOPHY, Metropolitan of Vinnytsia and Barsk

ALEXIY, Metropolitan of Voznesensk and Pervomaysk

BOGOLEP, Metropolitan of Alexandria and Svetlovodsk

NAFANAIL, Metropolitan of Volyn and Lutsk

VIKTOR, Metropolitan of Khmelnytskyi and Starokonstantinovskyi

PANTELEIMON, Archbishop of Buchansk

ALEXANDER, Archbishop of Gorodnytskyi

IONA, Archbishop of Obukhov

DIODOR, Archbishop of Yuzhna

VICTOR, Archbishop of Artsizsk

JOANNE, Archbishop of Zolotonosha

SERGIY, Archbishop of Bolgrad

PIMEN, Archbishop of Rivne and Ostrog

SPIRIDON, Archbishop of Dobropolsk

NIKODIM, Archbishop of Lubetsk

KIRILL, Bishop of Bishevsk

IAKOV, Bishop of Drogobych

HILARIUS, Bishop of Svalyavsk

ALIPIY, Bishop of Taruta

ANASTASIY, Bishop of Ovidiopol.