Ukrainian Orthodox Patriarch Visits Chicagoland

Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko), first hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, has completed a pastoral visit to the exarchate of the Kiev Patriarchate in the United States. During his time in the USA the Ukrainian Orthodox patriarch, once a frontrunner in the USSR for election as head of the Russian Orthodox Church, visited Ukrainian Orthodox churches in the Chicago area. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate, UAOC Dialogue Committee Meets

The dialogue committee of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) has met at St. Michael's Golden-domed Monastery in Kiev to discuss the reasons for the schism between the Kiev Patriarchate and the UAOC. Three hierarchs of the Kiev Patriarchate and five hierarchs of the UAOC participated in the meeting, which drafted an outline of the unification process discussed by the committee for submission to the hierarchies of the two churches. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Patriarch Philaret Marks 16 Years as Kievan Patriarch

The independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church has marked the 16th anniversary of the enthronement of Philaret (Denysenko), who initially served as a metropolitan in the Russian Orthodox Church and later in the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, as head of the Kiev Patriarchate. The anniversary was marked with a celebratory Divine Liturgy and a thanksgiving in Kiev's Cathedral of St. Volodymyr. More (in Ukrainian) here.

UAOC Skeptical of Dialogue with Kiev Patriarchate

Despite approving the resumption of dialogue with the Kiev Patriarchate the hierarchy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) has expressed skepticisim that the unity discussions will bear any fruit due to the non-participation of Ukraine's largest jurisdiction, the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in the dialogues and the UAOC hierarchy's distrust of the leadership of the Kiev Patriarchate. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate Holy Synod Approves Unity Dialogue with UAOC, Appeals to Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Dialogue

The fall session of the Holy Synod of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church has concluded in Kiev. Under the leadership of Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of Kiev the Holy Synod discussed recent political developments in Ukraine and approved an appeal to the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Ukraine's largest Orthodox Church and the only one recognized by the Local Orthodox Churches, to resume dialogue with the Kiev Patriarchate oriented towards the creation of a united, independent Church of Ukraine.

The Holy Synod also approved the resumption of the unity dialogue with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, of which the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church was briefly a part prior to the rise of Patriarch Philaret to the leadership of the Kiev Patriarchate. The dialogue was recognized as the only potentially fruitful dialogue currently being engaged in by the Kiev Patriarchate.

Lastly, in addition to dealing with various pastoral matters the Holy Synod also approved the local glorification of St. Mercurius of Bryhyntsi, a confessor of the Soviet Yoke, by the Eparchy of Chernigov. More (in Ukrainian) on the recent session of the Holy Synod can be found here.

Pochaev Privatization Proposal Provokes Protests

A bill in the Ukrainian Parliament proposing the privatization of the Pochaev Lavra, which is inhabited by monks belonging to the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has, unsurprisingly, been met with protests from Ukrainian nationalists and members of the hierarchy of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Lavra, which has been a bastion of loyalty to the Moscow Patriarchate in western Ukraine, is seen by the Kiev Patriarchate and others as a Ukrainian national shrine that should remain under the oversight of the Ukrainian government. More here.

New Kiev Patriarchate Bishop Consecrated

Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of Kiev and six other hierarchs of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church have consecrated Abbot Afanasii (Yavorskyi) as Bishop of Konotop. The consecration took place this past weekend in Kiev's Cathedral of St. Volodymyr. Bishop Afanasii will serve as an auxiliary of the Kiev Patriarchate's Eparchy of Sumy. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Ukrainian Orthodox Priest on Hunger Strike Passes Out in Mariupol'

A clergyman of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol' has passed out in front of the city administration. The priest, Fr. Volodymyr Koskin, began a hunger strike with two of his parishioners when the Mariupol' city authorities refused to allocate land to the Kiev Patriarchate for the construction of a temple for his parish, the Church of St. Panteleimon. Although parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in need of land are allocated it free of charge, in the region Kiev Patriarchate parishes must first request a land allocation and then buy it outright.

The Mariupol' city administration says that the parish's application for land was not rejected because of its jurisdictional affiliation, but rather because it applied for land in an area of the city not designated for church construction. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate Commemorates Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'

In celebration of the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' and in honor of the feast day of St. Volodymyr the head of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of Kiev, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Kiev's Cathedral of St. Volodymyr before leading a festal procession from the cathedral to the squares of Holy Wisdom Cathedral and St. Michael's Golden-domed Monastery in central Kiev. Patriarch Philaret concelebrated the services with other hierarchs and clergy of the Kiev Patriarchate. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Kiev Patriarchate Appeals to Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Unity Dialogue

In an appeal to the hierarchy of the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church the Holy Synod of the Kiev Patriarchate has accused the Moscow Patriarchate of remaining a tool of state interests in the former USSR and called for the beginning of a serious dialogue aimed at the establishment of a united, independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church centered in Kiev. (The Kiev Patriarchate has apparently forgotten that its own patriarch was himself closely associated with the Soviet regime and was raised to his rank with the collusion of the post-Soviet Ukrainian government.) More here and (in Ukrainian) here.

Kiev Patriarchate Holy Synod Meets, Calls for Jubilee Council

Meeting on the same day as the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church the Holy Synod of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church accepted Bishop Mikhail (Bondarchuk) of Poltava back into the jurisdiction of the Kiev Patriarchate from the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, electing him as Bishop of Dubno and auxiliary to Metropolitan Yevsevey (Polityla) of Rivne. The Holy Synod also elected Igumen Afanasiy (Jaworski) to the episcopacy to serve as an auxiliary in the Eparchy of Sumy.

Lastly, the Holy Synod decided to organize its own Jubilee Council this fall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of autocephaly by ex-Russian Orthodox patriarchal candidate Metropolitan Philaret (Denysenko) of Kiev and Patriarch Mystyslav of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Patriarch Philaret Visits Manjava Monastery

Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) has made a pastoral visit to the far west of Ukraine to participate in the 400th anniversary of the founding of the region's Maniava Monastery. The celebratory services were concelebrated by Patriarch Philaret and nine other hierarchs of the Kiev Patriarchate and well attended by local faithful and government officials. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Kiev's Golden-Domed Monastery Celebrates Restoration Anniversary

This past Sunday one of the earliest and best known monasteries in Ukraine, St. Michael's Golden-domed Monastery in Kiev (so named because its catholicon was apparently the first in Rus' to have golden domes), celebrated the anniversary of its restoration after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Monastery, which was an architectural masterpiece and historical landmark, was demolished during the Soviet era and replaced by a sports complex, only to be restored to its pre-demolition state after Ukraine became independent in 1991.

This past weekend's celebrations were led by Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose theological academy and seminary are housed on the remaining grounds of St. Michael's. The celebratory services were concelebrated by auxiliary Bishop Ahapit of Vyshhorod, superior of the Monastery, and nine other hierarchs of the Kiev Patriarchate. More (in Ukrainian) here.

On a personal note, although I'm not a supporter of the Kiev Patriarchate, St. Michael's was my favorite place to go when I lived in Kiev. Its catholicon is one of the most beautiful churches in the city and is a good representation of both its Byzantine beginnings and its later Ukrainian Baroque remodeling. For anyone visiting Kiev the Monastery stands alongside Holy Wisdom Cathedral, the Kiev Caves Lavra, and St. Volodymyr's Cathedral as a must visit for both historical and artistic reasons.

Patriarch Philaret, Archbishop Major Svyatoslav Discuss Areas of Inter-Church Cooperation

This past week Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Archbishop Major Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church met in Kiev to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the two churches, among them social issues, relations between the churches and the Ukrainian government, and education. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate Disciplines Metropolitan of Kryvyi Rih and Bohorodsk

In its recent meeting the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate removed its Metropolitan Adrian of Kryvyi Rih from his diocese in Ukraine because of his attempt to join the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (which refused his request). Metropolitan Adrian remains head of the Eparchy of Bohorodsk that the Kiev Patriarchate maintains in central Russia. More here.

Tent Church in Kiev Torn Down

Ukrainian authorities have removed a tent church outside the Ukrainian Parliament set up in protest of the illegal seizure of a church in western Ukraine of ultra-nationalists working with the Kiev Patriarchate. More here.

Kiev Patriarchate Affirms Orthodoxy, Rejects Catholicism

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate has responded to recent criticism of its dialogue with the Ukrainian Catholic Church centered on the creation of an independent Church of Ukraine by reaffirming its commitment to the Orthodox Faith and rejecting Roman Catholic innovations, among them the Roman Catholic teachings on the Trinity and universal papal jurisdiction. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Kiev Patriarchate Accuses Moscow Patriarchate of Manipulating Kiev Metropolia

The Kiev Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is claiming that the Moscow Patriarchate is planning to have Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk elected Metropolitan of Kharkov in the near future to enable his eventual election as first hierarch of the autonomous Church of Ukraine after the repose of ailing Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of Kiev. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Update (11:37pm): A longer English-language summary of the Kiev Patriarchate's speculations can be found here. It's really extraordinary to think that the Moscow Patriarchate would even consider organizing the election of an ethnic Russian as Metropolitan of Kiev, but then again, Ukrainian politics have changed significantly since the election of Metropolitan Volodymyr...

Kiev Patriarchate Leader Speaks Out Against Ukrainian President

Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate has called Ukrainian President Viktor F. Yanukovych "a Russian governor." More here.

New Poll of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine

A recent poll has shown that of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians 46% self-identify as members of the autonomous Church of Ukraine under the Moscow Patriarchate and 22% self-identify as members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate. More (in Russian) here. Hat tip to Ad Orientem for linking to a reposting of this!