Metropolitan Nicodemus of the UOC: The Council in Theophany confirmed the Church's ability to make independent decisions

Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhytomyr and Novograd-Volynsk made a statement in which he emphasized the historical importance of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held in Theophany on May 27, 2022. According to him, the decisions of the Council were a timely response to the challenges facing the Church and demonstrated its ability to make independent decisions while maintaining internal unity and fidelity to the canonical order.

In his address, the hierarch called the Council one of the most important and most weighty in its decisions in the history of the UOC. «The weighty resolutions of this assembly are, first of all, a manifestation of the cathedral unity of hierarchs, clergy and laity in the spirit of love and prudence,» Metropolitan Nicodemus noted. He added that even years later the relevance of the adopted resolutions is confirmed.

Metropolitan Nikodim paid special attention to the atmosphere in which the Council was held. He assured that the meeting was held in prayerful unity and peaceful discussions, where each participant was free to express his or her opinion. «There was no external, internal or other influence and pressure on the participants of the Council,» the Metropolitan emphasized. He also stated that the holding and results of the Council did not violate any canonical norms of either world Orthodoxy or the UOC itself.

Speaking about the current state of the Church, Metropolitan Nicodemus noted that «the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as the united Body of Christ, is covered with painful wounds today.» Despite this, he said, the Church and its faithful pray to God every day for peace for Ukraine, for the cessation of bloodshed and innocent killings.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Nicodemus once again pointed to the main outcome of the meeting: «The Council meeting of our Church testified that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is able to make important decisions independently, while maintaining unity, sobornost and fidelity to the canonical order». In his opinion, these decisions were a sign of renewal of church life and aspiration for spiritual strengthening of believers.

Earlier Metropolitan of Cherkassy and Kanev Theodosius (Snigiryov) said that the Council in Theophany in 2022 was held under pressure from the secret services. The bishop noted that the hierarchs of the UOC were threatened by people «in shoulder straps» before participating in the council, demanding that they make «necessary decisions».