Statement by the bishops of the UOC-MP to the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church may reflect a “corporate conflict” – Yelensky

The head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky, noted this in a commentary to Ukrinform.

According to Elensky, the statement was signed by 30 bishops, and he called this amount “not insignificant, but not a majority either.” He noted that the motives for this statement remain unclear, suggesting that it could become either the “last straw” for some bishops, or simply a “corporate conflict” in which part of the UOC-MP hierarchy seeks to protect one of its own. However, he noted that the issues raised in the statement, such as the violation of the autonomy of the UOC-MP within the Russian Church, may find a positive response from the clergy and parishioners who have long wanted to break with Moscow.

Yelensky also highlighted long-standing criticism of the UOC-MP episcopate for its passive response to the annexation of their dioceses, including in Crimea, Lugansk, Severskodonetsk, Donetsk and Mariupol.

When asked about the position of the head of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Onuphry, on this matter, Elensky replied that “it would be better to ask Onuphry himself about this; however, given that the statement does not contain his signature, he obviously does so.” I don’t share his feelings.”

“Society does not expect discussions between the synods of the UOC (MP) and the Russian Orthodox Church, but an unambiguous departure of the UOC (MP) from the Russian Orthodox Church. There are many canonical and purely evangelical reasons for this. But if theologians still demand some kind of justification, for ordinary people it is obvious that they cannot remain in a church whose leader openly declares the destruction of Ukrainian culture, the identity of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. It is simply impossible to justify staying inside this structure,” Yelensky added.

According to Yelensky, such a reaction could have been caused by the dismissal of Metropolitan Hilarion, a respected figure in the hierarchy of the UOC-MP, known for his long-standing role in Donetsk before the occupation. According to him, Hilarion is a figure close to many members of the episcopate of the UOC (MP).

“This is a man who led the diocese in the Donetsk region for a long time, had strong connections within the Ukrainian episcopate and the Donetsk establishment before the occupation of this territory, and also enjoyed a certain authority,” he noted.

At the same time, the official emphasized that the activities of representatives of the UOC (MP) should be considered in a broader context.

Yelensky also noted that the public expects a more assertive stance from Ukrainian bishops, especially in light of Russian Patriarch Kirill’s support for the war and his approval of actions such as blessing weapons. He described the actions as “jihad” and in clear violation of Christian doctrine, citing Kirill’s claims that death in Ukraine absolves all sins.

As reported, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Jonah Cherepanov published on Facebook a statement by the archbishops of the UOC (MP) regarding the actions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the dioceses of the UOC (MP) located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The signatories demanded the cancellation of the decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on “the removal of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol from the administration of the Donetsk diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and his retirement.”

In their address to the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the archbishops of the UOC (MP) emphasized that “the anti-canonical removal of Metropolitan Hilarion, a Ukrainian by birth,… long-term archpastor in Donetsk, and the appointment of a Russian archbishop in his place testifies to Moscow’s desire to annex the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with with the aim of destroying its independence and autonomy.”

The archbishops of the UOC (MP) called on the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to “renounce aggressive church policies towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its long-suffering flock, respect the borders of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” “