Tomos from the Patriarch of Constantinople postponed at least till end of August

The Synod of Constantinople will not make a decision regarding the Tomos on the recognition of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by July 28, the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine, as was expected previously. Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has not finished informing other autocephalous Churches in this regard, which shifts the decision till at least end of August.

Despite the deferral, the Ecumenical Patriarch’s position on the Ukrainian Church issue remains reportedly unaltered. A diplomat familiar with the matter stressed that the delay is connected with the length of the autocephaly bestowal procedure that usually takes time.

Last week, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople did not look into the Tomos issue. Now this question is postponed -- at least -- till the next Synod session, scheduled for end of August.

Though the exact date of the Tomos decision had been unknown, Ukraine’s officials -- both lay people and clergy -- expected it to happen closer to the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism. Several months back, this hope was expressed by Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and Filaret, Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate.

Sources in the UOC-KP explain the Tomos delay by the fact that the Patriarch of Constantinople has not yet finished the official communication of all autocephalous Churches in this regard. "The Synod sessions are on schedule, every month. This means that any upcoming session of the Synod may come up with the decision,” assumes Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zorya) who heads UOC-KP’s Information Department. He expects the Tomos decision this fall.

Andriy Parubiy, Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, said last week that the Tomos decision is a question to be finalized either in summer or fall. He believes that the new Church may be created already this year.