HEAD OF "DPR" DECLARES INEVITABILITY OF NEW WAR IF AUTOCEPHALY IS DECLARED
Religiia v Ukraine, 23 July 2018
If an autocephalous Orthodox church is created in Ukraine, it will end with a religious war in the country, declared the head of the Donetsk People's Republic [DPR], Alexander Zakharchenko, Religiia v Ukraine reports with reference to News.vash.ua.
In an interview with separatist news media, he accused Kiev of its intention to create a new local church, for which Ukrainian authorities have asked the permission of the ecumenical patriarch.
"I am extremely opposed to this situation; after all, the creation of a new local Orthodox church will lead to the igniting of a religious war," Zakharchenko said.
He declared that he intends to ask Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew to prevent bloodshed and the start of religious wars, and "not to permit Ukrainian and American diplomats to interfere in religious affairs."
We recall that in the spring, the head of the Ukrainian state, Petro Poroshenko, and hierarchs of the UPTsKP and UAPTs announced the unification of Ukrainian churches into one autocephalous church with the help of the Constantinople patriarchate. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 July 2018)
"LPR" ACCUSES KIEV OF IGNITING RELIGIOUS WAR IN UKRAINE
The attempt of Kiev to create a local autocephalous church may lead to the igniting of religious war, thinks the acting head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic [LPR], Leonid Pasechnik.
"The puppet Kiev regime, which unleashed a fratricidal war in the Donbass after the governmental coup, has thrown all its efforts so that yet another war will be unleashed on the whole territory of Ukraine—on religious grounds," Pasechnik's report, that was delivered to journalists, says. He added that Kiev does not realize that the schism in the Orthodox church that they are introducing will provoke a more horrible war—a religious one. "If the Kiev regime unleashes in Ukraine a war on religious grounds, we are prepared to come to the aid of our brothers in the faith and to protect them from religious genocide," the report of the acting head of the LPR says.
In Ukraine there now operate the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPTsMP), which is a self-administering church within the Moscow patriarchate, and church structures that are not recognized by world Orthodoxy, the Kiev patriarchate (UPTsKP) and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAPTs). The UPTsMP has previously often reported instances of harassment of clergymen and seizures of Orthodox churches by the schismatics. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 July 2018)
Religiia v Ukraine, 23 July 2018
The head of the Kiev patriarchate, Filaret, in an interview with the Kiev publication Levyi Bereg, expressed the conviction that the Constantinople church will deliver to the Ukrainian church a tomos concerning autocephaly before the end of 2018. The head of the UPTsKP [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate] also explained how the process of unification into a single autocephalous church will happen, Religiia v Ukraine reports.
"A special commission of three metropolitans of the Constantinople patriarchate was created, which is traveling about all of the local churches. . . . So far, the delegation still has not visited all local churches, so the announcement of the decision regarding the tomos has been a bit drawn out. According to the procedure, on the basis of the results of the visits of the delegation, a corresponding report should be prepared, which will be considered at a session of the Synod. And then a decision will be made in fact. According to information we now have, the tomos will be granted this year. Just when—in a month or in the fall—there are no specifics, but certainly this year," Filaret said.
He gave a prediction on the further development of events: "First there will be a council (sobor) of three churches, including the bishops of the Kiev patriarchate, the UAPTs [Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church], and the Moscow patriarchate, who appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew. Essentially this will be the unification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. At this council a single primate will be chosen, who will also receive the tomos. And then the most important thing—the process will be launched. The new Ukrainian church will enter into communication with all Orthodox churches of the world who recognize the validity of the tomos. Parallel with this, here in Ukraine both bishops, and clergy, and parishes will be united with it."
As to the UPTsMP [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate], Filaret also is optimistic in his predictions: "After the grant of the tomos, more than half of its Ukrainian parishes will depart from Moscow and therefore its status as the 'most numerous' will be lost and therewith its claim to primacy. . . . A significant portion of the episcopate of the Moscow patriarchate is in favor of the creation of an autocephalous church. Significant. But they are waiting for the tomos. That is, when the Ukrainian church will become, from their point of view, 'canonical.' Once it is 'canonical,' then they, as Ukrainians, will join this Ukrainian church that is canonical for them. We are counting on this."
Filaret suggests that it is he who will be selected as the head of the unified church, as the most experienced episcopal administrator. If the head of the UPTsMP, Metropolitan Onufrey, joins the unified church, then he will be able to a permanent member of the synod of this confession, Filaret added. Bishops of the confessions that are united into one church will not share their flock, he says, because "according to the canons, it is most important that one sphere of activity not be subject to two bishops, but each parish will be subject to only one bishop. This will not be a violation."
Filaret expressed the hope that the Ukrainian parliament will adopt a law that requires the part of the UPTsMP that does not join the unified church to insert in its name its ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow patriarchate. Filaret also hopes for the transfer of former church property that now is state owned (the Pochaev lavra and part of the Kiev lavra) to the unified church.
As for the church buildings that are owned by church parishes in the provinces, Filaret proposes a way for resolving possible disputes: "Deputies suggested that there it should be noted that the church should remain at the complete disposal of the parish only in the event that this is preferred by two-thirds of the parish. Two-thirds, no less. In this way we will be able to avoid religious strife in that city or town. If there is a simple majority, this parish can transfer [to another confession—ed. note], but then it would be better that there be alternating services so that the church will be used by both parts, both the one that transfers to the Ukrainian church and the one that wants to remain with the Moscow patriarchate." (tr. by PDS, posted 23 July 2018)
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