UOC names conditions for restoring communion with Patriarchate of Constantinople

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych) of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), has announced the conditions under which communication between the UOC and the Patriarchate of Constantinople can be restored. According to him, the dialogue can be resumed exclusively on the basis of canonical truth, with the recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the only canonical structure in Ukraine and the refusal to support schismatic associations. This is reported by the Telegram channel Pravblog with reference to Pravda.rs.

Metropolitan Anthony emphasized that there is one and only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “It is the one that has continuous apostolic succession, canonical hierarchy, the fullness of the mysterious life and historical rootedness in the life of the Orthodox people of Ukraine,” said the UOC Chancellor, adding that only the UOC is able to truly unite believers in the Eucharist – in Christ and in the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Assessing the role of the Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, Metropolitan Anthony noted that it is not an influential or independent structure. Its existence is rather auxiliary and representative. “Therefore, the idea that the exarchate can become some kind of alternative “unification center” for Orthodox hierarchs and believers who do not accept the OCU does not correspond to Orthodox ecclesiology,” he emphasized. According to the Metropolitan, Orthodoxy is united not by structure or jurisdictional affiliation, but by being in the canonical Church, where the apostolic faith, canons, and Eucharistic unity are preserved.

Addressing the issue of the possible restoration of communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Anthony said that the Church always lives in hope for peace and restoration of unity, as division is “a wound on the Body of Christ.” However, such restoration is possible only on the basis of canonical truth, without ignoring the existing violations of church order.

For the true restoration of communion, the following conditions are necessary: recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the only canonical Church in Ukraine; refusal to support schismatic structures; return to the general church, conciliar solution of issues related to the fullness of Universal Orthodoxy. “Without this, any external forms of ‘coexistence’ or ‘parallel centers’ will not lead to true peace in the Church,” Metropolitan Anthony concluded.

Earlier, we reported that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople refuted the accusations against the Church of Constantinople, calling them “deception and deliberate distortion of the truth.” In his address, he emphasized the historical conditionality of the primacy of Constantinople and warned against attempts to destroy sacred traditions.