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Ukranian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine

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The new stage of history of the UAOC began on February 15, 1989, when, with the support of pro-Ukrainian forces in Kyiv, an initiative committee for the restoration of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine began was founded in Kyiv. Its main purpose was to revive the UAOC and register citizens of the church. After Fr. Volodymyr Yarema (after Patriarch [[Dimitrios(Yarema)]], priest of the Lviv Sts. Peter and Paul Church, together with his parish, left the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church on August 19, 1989, the autocephalous movement began to gain wide momentum. In UAOC parishes it was adopted to commemorate the then Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios during Liturgies.
Immediately a search began for bishops for the restored church. On October 22, 1989, at the Council of Priests and Laity in Lviv, the revival of the UAOC was proclaimed. Bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP) Ioann (Bodnarchuk) [[Metropolitan Ioan Bornachuk]] (who on November 14, 1989, was banned from ministry by the MP Synod) headed the revived of the church.
At the beginning of 1990 about 200 Galician parishes transferred to the UAOC. Because of the growing number of communities, the leadership of the church to ordained new bishops. Since the bishops of the UAOC in emigration at that time were not able to participate, the new UAOC bishop Vasyl (Bondarchuk) was ordained by Ioann (Bodnarchuk), Bishop of Volyn and Rivne of the ROC Varlaam (Ilyushenko), who acted secretly from the Synod of the ROC, and Bishop of Yasnopole of the True Orthodox (Catacomb) Church Vikentiy (Chekalin). As it turned out later, the '''latter was an impostor'''. Therefore, '''all of his ordinations were repeated in 1991 with the participation of foreign bishop of UAOC, Antoniy (Scherba)'''.
'''In spring 1990 ''' five more episcopal ordinations took place: '''Andrii Abramchuk, Danylo Kovalchuk, Mykola Hroha, Roman Balaschuk, and Volodymymr Romaniuk.'''
The Ukrainian Orthodox Council with the participation of 700 delegates from across Ukraine, including 7 bishops and more than 200 priests, was held in Kyiv on '''June 5-6, 1990'''. The council approved the renewal of the UAOC and chose [[Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) ]] as Patriarch of Kyiv and Ukraine. The Statute of the Church was also adopted. Metropolitan Mstyslav was absent from the Council, and he did not accept his election as patriarch right away. [[Metropolitan Ioann (Bodnarchuk) ]] was locum tenens of the patriarchal throne in Kyiv at that time.
'''On October 2, 1990''', the authorities of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic formally registered the UAOC.
The democratization of political life in Ukraine made it possible for Metropolitan of the UAOC [[Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) ]] to visit Ukraine in the autumn of 1990. And on November 18, 1990, in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, he was enthroned as Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
In Ukraine, '''Patriarch Mstyslav with Bishop of Washington Antoniy (Shcherba) ''' ordained Antoniy (Fialko) as bishop of Khmelnytsky and Panteleymon (Romanovskyi) as bishop of Dnipropetrovsk.
After his brief stay in Ukraine, Patriarch Mstyslav returned to the United States. He appointed Bishop Antony (Masendych) as his substitute administrator of the Patriarchate in Kyiv. Bishop Antony was then later elevated to Metropolitan of Pereyaslavl and Sicheslavskyi.
Because the UAOC head resided outside the country, as well as a number of internal tensions and conflicts in the Ukrainian part of the UAOC in 1990-1991, a confrontation inside the different groups and bishops emerged. This made it impossible for the church to clearly formalize its structure and regulate church life.
In parallel with these developments in the Ukrainian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, which at that time was called the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, centrifugal processes took place from the Moscow church center. Kyiv Metropolitan [[Filaret (Denysenko) ]] led this movement. With the support of the leadership of Ukraine, Metropolitan Filaret started a dialogue with Metropolitan Antony (Masendych) about the possibility of merging into one church.
The National Ukrainian Forum on Protection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was attended by bishops, clergy, laity of the UOC and UAOC was held on May 22, 1992, in Kyiv. '''And on June 25-26, 1992''', at the residence of Metropolitan Filaret, a Ukrainian Orthodox Council was held, which united the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in one structure – the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyivan Patriarchate]].
The [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Moscow Patriarchate ]] was represented by Metropolitan Filaret, Bishop Yakiv (Panchuk), and two new bishops – Spyrydon (Babskyi) and Varsonofiy (Mazurak). From the side of the UAOC the council was attended by Bishops Antony (Masendych), Volodymyr (Romaniuk), Roman (Balaschuk), Sofronii (Vlasov), Roman (Popenko) and Mykail (Dutkevych).
'''The council chose Metropolitan Mstyslav as Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The new church was registered by the authorities, and so registration of the UAOC was annulled (legally it ceased to exist). However, some of the clergy and faithful of the UAOC were displeased with the formation of a new structure because the Unification Council and the formation of the UOC-KP took place in the absence of Patriarch Mstyslav and without his blessing'''.
The new church was registered by the authorities, and so registration of the UAOC was annulled (legally it ceased to exist). However, some of the clergy and faithful of the UAOC were displeased with the formation of a new structure because the Unification Council and the formation of the '''UOC-KP took place in the absence of Patriarch Mstyslav and without his blessing.
'''
Immediately after the Unification Council bishops of the UAOC –Antony (Fialko) of Khmelnytskyi, Panteleimon (Romanovsky) of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykola (Hroha) of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Polikarp (Palahniuk) – filed a request for transfer to the ROC and were re-ordained. Bishop Polikarp renounced his episcopal dignity.
From July 1 to July, Patriarch Mstyslav visited Ukraine. During a meeting with former bishops of the UAOC he expressed his dissatisfaction with the Unification Council and the formation of the new structure – the UOC-KP.
'''On October 17, 1992, the head of the UAOC dismissed Metropolitan Antony (Masendych) and Bishop Volodymyr (Romaniuk).''''''On December 12 ''' the patriarch arrived in Ukraine for the last time. On December 23 and 24 in Kyiv there was a meeting with the faithful and the clergy who did not recognize the unification with the part of the UOC-MP headed by Metropolitan Filaret (Denysenko). Archbishop of Lviv, Petro (Petrus), also participated in the meeting. The result of the meeting was an address from Patriarch Mstyslav dated December 24 to the president of Ukraine, prime minister, and prosecutor general of Ukraine in which he insisted on the illegality of the participation of bishops and believers in the Unification Council of June 25-26, 1992, and the violation of the Statute of the UAOC.
In turn, the Hierarchical Council of the UOC-KP (17 bishops) responded with a resolution dated December 15 that none of the actions of Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) has any validity without prior approval of the Synod. Patriarch Mstyslav himself was invited to participate in the council, but he flatly refused.
In response to the actions of Archbishop Petro (Petrus), the same day the Hierarchical Synod of the UOC-KP deprived of him of his dignity, and of those clerics who tried to reactivate the UAOC.
'''On June 11, 1993, Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) died in Grimsby, Canada.'''
Since in Ukraine two structures considered him their hierarchs – the UOC-KP and the UAOC, which had lost its registration – the UOC in the United States distanced itself from both jurisdictions. Also, the American bishops refused the request of the restored UAOC to participate in the new ordination for Ukraine.
Given this the extraordinary Patriarchal Council of June 11, 1993, decided on the ordination of two new hierarchs: Bishop of Rivne Feoktysta (Peresad) (June 30) and of Kharkiv and Poltava Ihor (Isichenko) (July 12).
Shortly after this a meeting of the Hierarchical Council of the UAOC took place, where it was decided to '''ask the priest Volodymyr (Yarema) to take monarchal vows and accept episcopal ordination'''. On O'''n August 23, 1993, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lviv, Archbishop Petro (Petrus) accepted the ​​vows of Fr. Volodymyr, who took the name of Dymytriy. ''' And on '''September 5 in Kyiv, Dymytriy (Yarema) was ordained the bishop of Sichevskyi'''. On '''September 7, 1993, at the second National Council of the UAOC he was elected Patriarch of Kyiv. The enthronement took place on September 14 in the Church of Our Savior on Berestov.'''
'''At the same time, the UOC-KP, which had also thought of Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) as its head, also held elections for a new patriarch of Ukraine. From October 21 to 24 in Kyiv a National Council was held in which Bishop of Chernihiv Volodymyr (Romaniuk) was elected the head of the UOC-KP.'''
From the beginning of his time on the patriarchal throne, Dymytriy (Yarema) considered it his mission to overcome the division between the three branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and was ready to use his powers to unite and elect a joint head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
During 1993-1996 in the UAOC there was a confrontation between the newly elected Patriarch Dymytriy and the administrator of the Patriarchate Archbishop Petro (Petrus). The main reason of the conflict was Bishop Petro’s attempt to gain the power in the Patriarchate that he had received from Patriarch of Mstyslav.
 
'''In October 1993''', Metropolitan Evloghios, as Primate of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of [[Milan]] and Western Europe '''[[(Holy Synod od Milan)]]''', was invited in His dignity of First Hierarch in full communion with the [[Ukranian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A.]] to partecipate at the sobor in Kiev for the election of the second Patriarch after [[Mstyslav]].
 
'''On November 18, 1993''', is confirmed by the Patriarch Volodimir the full right of Metropolitan Evloghios to be part of the Holy Synod of the [[Ukranian Orthodox Church]] - Kievan Patriarchate.
On March 20, 1994 Metropolitan Evloghios, receives from the hands of Patriarch Volodimir the Tomos of Autonomy[http://mediolanum.me/canada/].
 
The title reconfirmed by [[Patriarch Volodymir]] through a new Tomos of Autonomy (1994)<ref>[http://mediolanum.me/canada/ Православна Церква Західної Європи и Канади].</ref> is: ''Archbishop of Milan and Longobardy - Metropolitan of Aquileia, Western Europe and Canada.''
The result of this was the registration in 1995 of two statutes of the UAOC, one of which was given by Patriarch Dymytriy and the other by Petro (Petrus). Both statutes were registered by state authorities of Ukraine. This put an end to the illegal situation of the church, but it was registered as a new religious movement, not as a successor of the UAOC from 1990, as was sought by Patriarch Dymytriy.
'''In 1995 the UAOC in the United States came under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to settle its canonical status. ''' Earlier, in 1990, this was done by the UOC in Canada. On March 12, 1995, all 12 bishops were formally received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
'''In June 1995''', Patriarch of the UOC-KP Volodymyr turned to the head of UAOC with a proposal to begin the unification process between the churches. As a result of reaching an agreement to merge the two jurisdictions, the parties agreed to renounce patriarchal rights and to hold elections of a new head.
This initiative, however, was not implemented due to the sudden death of head of the UOC-KP on July 14, 1995.
A session of western eparchies of the UOC-KP was held on September 10, 1995, in Rohatyn. At the session an appeal was sent to the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne Metropolitan Filaret to withdraw his candidature for the new patriarch. At the session it was also decided to begin the process of unification of the branches of the Ukrainian Church. The appeal was also signed by 17 priests of the UAOC.
The election of new head of the UOC-KP was held on October 20, 1995, at the National Council in Kyiv. '''The new patriarch became Metropolitan Filaret (Denysenko).'''
A day earlier, on October 19, a group of bishops of the UOC-KP – Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk Andrij (Abramchuk), Archbishop of Ternopil Vasylii (Bodnarchuk), Archbishop of Vinnytsia Roman (Balaschuk) and Bishop of Khmelnytskyi Mefodiy (Kudriakov) – announced its withdrawal from the Kyivan Patriarchate. Then in the Kyiv Feodosievsky monastery they met with the bishops of the UAOC during which the “Act of Unifying the Churches” was passed.
Eastern Ukrainian clergy led by Bishop Ihor (Isichenko) opposed this unification. At a meeting, which took place in Odesa on November 8, “Act of Unifying the Churches” was called declarative and one that requires discussion at the National Council, which was proposed to be held in fall or summer 1996.
'''On November 14, 1995, Bishops Andrii (Abramchuk), Mefodiy (Kudriakov), and Petro (Petrus), without the approval of the patriarch, met with Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of the UOC-MP. ''' As a result they formed a joint commission of the two churches to overcome the schism. However, representatives of the UAOC set as one of the conditions of the union the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church – this condition was not accepted by the hierarchy of the UOC-MP. Also during the talks an idea was brought up about the possibility of establishing an autonomous Galician Metropolitanate based on the UAOC, but as part of the UOC-MP.
The same day an extended Hierarchical Council of the UAOC was held in the Church of Mykola Naberezhny. The council was attended by new and old hierarchs, and it was decided to hold on June 5, 1996, a National Council of the UAOC to discuss relations with the UOC-MP, among other topics.
The leadership of the church held a series of negotiations with the bishops of the UOC abroad and representatives of the Romanian Church to overcome the isolation of the UAOC from world Orthodoxy.
'''On February 25, 2000, Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema) passed away at 85.'''
The death of the head of the church caused for some confusion in the UAOC. Patriarch Dymytriy left behind a will, stating that the UAOC must come under the omophorion of the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA Constantine (Bahan).
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