Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion: the schismatic ‘OCU’ has&nb…

Metropolitan Hilarion: the schismatic ‘OCU’ has not received real independence

The head of the Ukrainian schism Philaret Denisenko has appealed to the President of Ukraine V. Zelensky to ask Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople for a new ‘tomos’ that would grant ‘real autocephaly’.

Commenting on this statement during the Church and the World broadcast, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk recounted the background of the matter. As is known, acting in defiance of canons, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was going to give the Ukrainian Church ‘a tomos of autocephaly’ (that is, a document attesting that a Church receives full self-governance and independence). However, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites a majority of the people in the country, did not ask for such a document because she wishes to remain in canonical unity with the Russian Orthodox Church. 

‘Accordingly, since Patriarch Bartholomew had an order from then Ukrainian President Poroshenko who he needed it to win the elections (which he failed to do, as we know), the Patriarch of Constantinople had to give the tomos to those who accepted it, and those who accepted it were Ukrainian schismatics”, His Eminence stressed. 

The DECR chairman recounted that even not all the Ukrainian schismatics accepted it: the head of the Ukrainian schism, Philaret Denisenko, who calls himself ‘the patriarch of Kiev’, declared that as a matter of fact this document did not grant real self-governance. Thus, Denisenko pointed out that according to ‘the tomos’, the new church structure in Ukraine is not bestowed the status of patriarchate and it also proves to be dependent to a considerable extent on Constantinople; for instance, Constantinople for it is the highest instance and any cleric of this ‘church’ can complain about his ‘bishop’ to the Patriarch of Constantinople and the final decision will be made not in Kiev but in Istanbul. 

“There is no such thing in the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church as she is really self-governed” Metropolitan Hilarion stated, “no decision made by the instances of the Bishops’ Council of the Ukrainian Church can be challenged in Moscow but decisions made by the so-called ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine’, created by Constantinople on the basis of schismatisc, can be challenged in Istanbul”. 

In Metropolitan Hilarion’s opinion, Philaret Denisenko has pointed to the defects of the ‘tomos’ given to the schismatic community in Ukraine since in effect he has found himself outside the game, being deprived of an opportunity to come at the head of the ‘church’ legitimized by Constantinople. Now he has to call himself the head of ‘the Patriarchate of Kiev’. 

Therefore, as of today, there are two schisms operating in Ukraine and one of them is ‘legitimized’ by Patriarch Bartholomew, the DECR chairman said emphasizing, ‘Constantinople has made such a mess in Ukraine that now Ukrainians themselves find it difficult to sort out what is going on’.

DECR Communication Service

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Ambassador of Turkey to Russia

02.09.2025

Visit of Deans of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa to Russia concludes

01.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the eve of Dormition

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov on his 75th birthday

26.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill holds prayer service ahead of Russia-US Presidents' meeting in Alaska

15.08.2025

Meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic takes place

30.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov

21.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill receives a delegation of the Malankara Church of India

19.07.2025

On the day of commemoration of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Primate of the Russian Church celebrated the Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

18.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill сelebrates All-Night Vigil at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

17.07.2025

Primate of the Russian Church сelebrates Little Vespers with Akathist to St. Sergius of Radonezh at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

17.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends condolences to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch over terrorist attack on Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus

22.06.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders

19.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the eve of Dormition

27.08.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with Primate of Albanian Orthodox Church

12.08.2025

Metropolitan Anthony presented Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov with the Patriarchal decree appointing him Deputy Chairman of the DECR

08.08.2025

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with Pope Leo XIV

26.07.2025

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to the Vatican

26.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill receives a delegation of the Malankara Church of India

19.07.2025

On the day of commemoration of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Primate of the Russian Church celebrated the Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

18.07.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill сelebrates All-Night Vigil at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

17.07.2025

Primate of the Russian Church сelebrates Little Vespers with Akathist to St. Sergius of Radonezh at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

17.07.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk leads celebrations at Moscow Metochion of Serbian Orthodox Church on its patronal feast

12.07.2025

English Edition of V.A. Shchipkov’s Monograph 'Countering Secularism' presented at TASS

03.07.2025

Editorial board of Church and Time journal meets in Moscow

02.07.2025

DECR Chairman: the politicization of the World Council of Churches puts its future under threat

01.07.2025

Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participates in the work of the WCC Central Committee in South Africa

18.06.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب