Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zoria): Local Church Should Be Managed by Patriarch Elected by Joint Council

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) has never refused to elect its own patriarch.

"According to the Statue and resolutions the church should be led by an elected patriarch," says Archbishop Yevstratiy of Chernihiv and Nizhyn of the UOC-KP. "Therefore our church should be united around the patriarchal throne in Kyiv. If the current patriarch dies, there may be circumstances when the new patriarch is not necessary chosen immediately, but only after certain conditions. What do I mean? Maybe eventually, we will be united with with a greater or lesser part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in one national church. In this case, according to Patriarch Filaret, which was supported by the Local Council, the patriarch of United Church should be elected by joint Council. If we choose our new Primate before a possible union with part of the UOC-MP, it may complicate the process. Someone would have to give up leadership, and this is not the in the tradition."

The archbishop emphasized that the election will be postponed only if there are conditions for the union of the churches.