Patriarch Filaret Advised Patriarch Kirill to Recognize Autocephaly of Ukrainian Church

During his pastoral visit to the United States, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Patriarch Filaret, spoke on the radio program Voice of America. He told the audience about the relations between the Kyivan and Moscow Patriarchate today and gave a some advice to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who, according to him, is so far “simply afraid” to meet him.  

“I would advise Patriarch Kirill to recognize the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church, give up the Ukrainian Church (Moscow Patriarchate), promote unification,” noted Patriarch Filaret. 

According to him, such actions not only will promote friendly relations between the Ukrainian and Russian Churches but will also effect the relations between the states. “For when the churches are on good terms, the nations and states will be on good terms,” added the hierarch.

Patriarch Filaret also assured that his church remains open to the dialogue, which according to him should result in the unification and establishment of one national Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  According to him, “Moscow expects the possible dialogue to result in the unification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and annexation thereof to Moscow.” And even though the goals of the parties are different as of today, Patriarch Filaret is convinced that the dialogue is possible as “existence of the independent state facilitates the establishment of one national Ukrainian Orthodox Church...The process has begun and is irreversible,” stressed he.

The pastoral visit of the head of the UOC-KP to the United States began on October 29 and will end on November 16.