In Transcarpathia, OCU distributes manuals on how parishes can leave UOC

The Transcarpathian Diocese of the OCU publishes guidelines with an algorithm of actions for UOC parishes that have expressed a desire to join their structure. The OCU claims that people in the number of 3 or more people can initiate the “transition”; all that is needed is to draw up a meeting protocol. In addition, the OCU calls for the involvement of “adequate media” in the process, which will be able to cover the procedure as widely as possible. This is reported by the website “Announcement of Transcarpathia”.

“A group of citizens (parishioners) of the village in the amount of at least 3 people (preferably 5-7 people) at its meeting decides to create an initiative group of parishioners (in the amount of 15-20 people) in order to study the opinion of the religious community of the village regarding the change of subordination from the UOC (MP) to the OCU. […] Based on the results of the survey, if it shows that the majority of respondents are in favor of changing the jurisdiction, the head of the initiative group (officially, by letter) addresses the village head with a request to convene a meeting of the religious community of the village to resolve the issue of changing the jurisdiction. The village head must convene the meeting, post announcements ten days before the date of the meeting, and inform the community by all available means,” the methodology states.

It is worth noting that according to the model statutes of religious communities registered in accordance with Ukrainian law, neither initiative groups nor village council heads have the authority to implement the processes described in the methodology. The parish meeting itself can be convened only with the participation of the rector, who is the head and signatory of the religious organization. Thus, the information published by the Transcarpathian Diocese of the OCU is manipulative and contrary to current legislation.