Patriarch Filaret: In Ukraine, there will be one Orthodox Church and something what will be left of the ROC

After receiving  the Tomos from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a large Local Orthodox Church will rise in Ukraine. Those clergymen and faithful who are unwilling to join it will remain in the Moscow Patriarchate. Patriarch Filaret of the UOC-KP said it in an interview with Ukrainian Truth.

"If we get the Tomos, then the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be only one. And not just one - but the biggest one. Now the Kyiv Patriarchate is twice as large as  the Moscow Patriarchate.

If the UAOC and the rest will join the Kyiv Patriarchate, then we will be the largest church. And all that remains of the Moscow Patriarchate should be called the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine,” said the first hierarch.

According to him, these remaining part of the Russian Orthodox Church will enjoy the same rights as the Ukrainian Church, because the law for all churches and religions in Ukraine is one and the same.

The patriarch of the UOC-KP also said that several of the hierarchs of the UOC (MP) also stand for the One Church, but do not openly express their views.

“We know that about ten of them gave their signatures, but only two of them have announced their views publicly. Why do other keep silence and how many of them? Others are afraid. What are you afraid of? And if there is no Tomos, then Moscow will punish all those who applied.

And when the Tomos will be granted, when the One Local Ukrainian Church is formed, then nobody will be afraid. They will be free to join and we will all be one Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

So, those potential members, according to some observations, are about 2/3 of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Please note that today the Kyiv Patriarchate enjoys the support of 40-44% of the population, and Moscow - only of 20-24%. If a third remains out of these 24% in the unity with the ROC, which is 8% - it will be a small Church and it will not have a significant impact,” Patriarch Filaret concludes.