|
News
|
 |
|
13 November 2018, 10:49Zhitomir Diocese supports Metropolitan Onufry
Kiev, November 12, Interfax - The assembly of the clergy of the Zhitomir Diocese has expressed unanimous support to Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine regarding the establishment of the so-called "unified local church" independent from the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Zhitomir clergy also called for strengthening of prayers for the canonical Church and its leader, the Zhitomir Diocese head, Metropolitan Nikodim, said on his Facebook account.
The clergy of the Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk Regions and the Kharkov, Poltava, Zaporozhzhye, Odessa, Kherson, Rovno and Kirovograd dioceses earlier expressed their support to the canonical Church.
Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko will discuss the situation surrounding the establishment of the "local unified church" with the episcopacy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Tuesday. According to unofficial information, Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnitsa, who, according to the media, was considered by the authorities as a candidate for the head of the new church, would not attend the meeting with Poroshenko because he fell ill suddenly and was hospitalized.
On October 11, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate reclaimed its rights to the Kiev Metropolitanate and abrogated its ordinance of 1686 that put this metropolitanate under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. It also announced the opening of a mission in Kiev, lifted an anathema from Kiev Patriarchate leader Filaret (Denisenko), and recognized his organization and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church as canonical. In response, the Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate fully severed communion with the Constantinople Patriarchate.
|
