We have no right to say that the UOC is in schism - Metropolitan Theodosius

Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigiryov) of Cherkasy and Kanev has expressed his opinion on the situation in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The bishop noted that despite the presence of violations of the 15th rule of the Twofold Council, the Russian Orthodox Church alone can determine whether the UOC is in schism. He said in a podcast for the YouTube channel “DNA”.

“I am in no way saying that the Kiev Metropolitanate or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is now in schism. It is impossible to say that. And we have no right to say it. The kyriarchal Russian Orthodox Church may or may not say this, having all kyriarchal rights to do so, ” the hierarch noted.

At the same time, the Metropolitan noted that the current situation in relations between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate is not comparable to the way relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and Constantinople were terminated in the 15th century. The hierarch pointed out that the decisions of the Council in Theophany led to a violation of the 15th rule of the Twofold Council, which says that the rupture of relations with the kyriarchal Church and the Patriarch is possible only in specific cases, which do not include war.

“In this case we come directly to the 15th rule of the Twofold Council, which everyone interprets in their own way, but it is about this very case. When they say that the 15th, like the 13th and 14th rules of the Twofold Council, is about commemoration or non-remembrance, it means that people either do not get into the essence of the issue, or they are banally manipulating us. The fact is that these rules are not about remembrance, these rules are about unity with their Patriarch. These rules are about those who have “separated” (detached – note) from their bishop, or from their Metropolitan, or from their Patriarch, respectively, together with him, and from their kyriarchal Church. […] These rules speak of the prohibition of breaking off relations with one’s Patriarch and with the Kiriarchal Church. […] One has the right to break off relations with his Patriarch if his Patriarch publicly preaches heresy or has concluded unia with heretics. In our case, no one preaches heresy, and the Patriarch has not concluded any unia with heretics. Nevertheless, a number of bishops of our Church diclarize exactly the break with the Patriarch and the Kiriarchal Church, which demonstrates a direct violation of the 15th rule of the Twofold Council”, – added Metropolitan Theodosius.

Earlier, the rector of the Kiev Theological Seminary and Academy, Archbishop Silvester (Stoychev), presented his own point of view on the issue of the current status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The bishop noted that after the Council in Theophany, it can be considered that the UOC is in a state of de facto, but not yet proclaimed autocephaly.