- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

ROCOR Supports Canonical Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine

© CC BY 2.0Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery in New York
Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery in New York - Sputnik International
Subscribe
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) supports the canonical church in Ukraine, which is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan told Sputnik on Monday.

“The Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow and the ROCOR have stated that we support Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and the Ukrainian Church,” Bishop Nicholas said. “We have to defend the truth as it is important to follow the canons of the church.”

A view from the sea to the harbour and market place of Helsinki - Sputnik International
Finnish Orthodox Church Denies Claims on Support for Ukrainian Church's Autonomy
In October, the Istanbul-based Constantinople Patriarchate granted independence to the non-canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP). In response, the Russian Orthodox Church broke off ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate and characterized the move as creating a “schism.” ROCOR also decided to suspend services with the hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate.

Bishop Nicholas, who is vicar of ROCOR’s Eastern American diocese, acknowledged that the situation in Ukraine could lead to “difficulties with some of our brothers and sisters in other jurisdictions.”

However, he warned that the potential or actual difficulties must not lead to disregarding the truth that the UOC-MP, and not the UOC-KP, is the canonical church in Ukraine.

READ MORE: Russian Orthodox Church Demands Apology From Constantinople Amid Schism

“We cannot stray from the truth,” Bishop Nicholas said, adding that the ROCOR faithful throughout the world should and do support their brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

The bishop pointed out that at least one parish decided to leave the Constantinople Patriarchate’s jurisdiction and join the ROCOR as a result of the decision to grant independence to the UOC-KP.

President Putin chairs meeting of Russia's Security Council - Sputnik International
Russia
Putin Discusses Orthodox Church Crisis in Ukraine with Russian Security Council
“I just know of one church that came to the omophorion of ROCOR. This is St. Nicholas church in Florence, Italy,” Bishop Nicholas said. He explained that after the clergy and faithful of St. Nicholas’ parish reached their decision, they appealed directly to ROCOR’s first hierarch — Metropolitan Hilarion.

The authorities in Kiev have been working to establish a single local autocephalous (independent) church in Ukraine based on the existing non-canonical Ukrainian Orthodox churches of which UOC-KP is one.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала