OCU lobbyist: “The fact that Metropolitan Onufriy does not travel to Moscow and does not participate in Synod meetings is not enough”

Lyudmila Filipovich, a lobbyist for the OCU in the media, Doctor of Philosophy, professor at the Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, supported the position of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience on the issue of banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Filippovich is convinced that in order to avoid being banned, the UOC must document and publicly confirm its withdrawal from the Russian Orthodox Church. The religious scholar claims that the decisions made in 2022 at the Council of the UOC in Feofaniya are not enough for the state. She said this in a comment to the TV channel “24 Channel.”

“The state clearly lacks the decisions that the UOC refers to when it claims that the decision of the Council of May 27, 2022, allegedly clearly confirms its independence and autonomy in management and structure. This is not enough for the state, because if you declare your independence, this declaration must be confirmed by concrete actions. Therefore, provide the state and Ukrainian society with the relevant document,” – said Lyudmila Filipovich.

The OCU lobbyist believes that since the Primate of the UOC is a member of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church according to the statute of the Russian Church, he must publicly declare that the decisions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church are not binding on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and that he himself has left the structure of the Moscow Patriarchate.

“That is, if the Russian Orthodox Church makes any decisions regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—for example, the redistribution of parishes between dioceses or the appointment of new bishops—it is necessary to clearly state: ‘We do not recognize these decisions. They are not valid for us.’ At least with regard to one parish or diocese, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should express its position. The fact that Metropolitan Onufriy does not travel to Moscow and does not participate in Synod meetings is not enough. It is not enough just not to travel. According to the statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church, he is still a member of the Holy Synod,” – added the religious scholar.

Recall that the former head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, Olena Bohdan, stated that the official website of this agency contains documents confirming the departure of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.