Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky has met with Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukrainian, Metropolitan Epiphanius, and leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onufriy.That’s according to the ministry’s press service, as reported by Ukrinform.
At the meeting with the leaders of Ukraine’s two largest Orthodox denominations, the minister discussed the issue of constructive relations between church and government, as well as the need to ensure interfaith peace, law and order.
Separately, the parties discussed in detail security measures during mass processions held on July 27-28, marking the national holiday, Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.
Monastyrsky assured the church leaders that law enforcers were ready to resolutely counter all possible acts of provocation during festive events, including in and around temples and other places of worship.
The minister has called on OCU and UOC leaders to remain balanced and take special responsibility during mass events, expressing hope for cooperation in this regard and future constructive dialogue.
According to Ukrinform, on July 27, the National Guard and police tightened security measures in the Kyiv center due to the holding of mass events dedicated to the 1033rd anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.
Background
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine in January 2019 received from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople a tomos of autocephaly, effectively completing the process of the Ukrainian church gaining independence from the Russian Orthodox Church which traditionally sees Ukraine as part of its own canonical territory.
On December 15, 2018, the Unification Church Council was held in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. The clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate established a united local Orthodox Church of Ukraine, approved its charter, and elected its primate – Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
The procedure for granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was completed on January 6, 2019, when the Patriarchal Church of St. George hosted the presentation of the tomos of autocephaly and the divine liturgy was co-served by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Subsequently, Onufriy, the leader of the religious organization, which took part in the unification council, walked back on commitments to recognize the newly-created independent church alongside Russian clerics who accused Patriarch Bartholomew of abusing power and creating a schism among the Ukrainian faithful.
The process of recognition of the OCU by other local Orthodox churches worldwide is ongoing, while Russian clergy has been vocally opposing the developments and rallying affiliated churches to hinder them.
The Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine has also spoken up against the government’s decision to mandate the renaming of religious organizations to reveal in their official title the actual decision-making centers, which would imply that Onufriy’s UOC would be entitled “Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.”