The decisions of the UOC-MP Council, which took place on May 27, 2022, were aimed, in particular, at protecting the church’s property. This was stated by the head of the ROC’s external church relations department Hilarion (Alfeev) of Volokolamsk.
“When the schismatics learned that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was preparing a Council and that the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church could be proclaimed at that Council, they claimed their ‘rights’ to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and demanded from government that part of the Lavra premises be transferred to them for further use. But I think that the actions taken by the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were aimed in particular at protecting its property,” said Metropolitan Hilarion, according to RIA Novosti.
In addition, Alfeev reacted negatively to the bill filed in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on indicating in the names of religious organizations the location of their decision-making centers.
It should be recalled that on May 27, the UOC-MP Council failed to condemn Russian aggression, simply calling Ukraine a “warring party.” The UOC-MP Council also approved amendments to the statute, stating that they now have “full autonomy and independence.”
The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, believes that holding the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate Council was aimed at improving Ukrainian society’s attitude toward it, not at severing ties with the Russian Church, which is hostile to Ukraine.
At the same time, the UOC-MP says that they did not sever ties with the ROC, but only repeated the statements proclaimed some 30 years ago.
The ROC is divided on how to react to the UOC-MP’s “declaration of independence”: some say that all is fine and unity will be strengthened, and others – that it’s the U.S. State Department that is to blame for the latest developments.
On May 29, ROC Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) said that the UOC-MP had not separated from the Russian church, but confirmed the status granted by Moscow 30 years ago.
