Ukraine to have two jurisdictions, two canonical Churches, religious experts say

Even after the recognition of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church, there will be two jurisdictions - autocephalous and Russian Orthodox CHurch in Ukraine (it has a title Ukrainian Orthodox Church). Religious analyst Anatoly Babynsky was saying this in live broadcast on 24 Channel.

The conflict can grow acute, because, according to the analyst, big issues are at stake and too many actors’ involved.

There are many people in Ukraine who would want to stay with the Moscow Patriarchate, and this is their choice, Babynsky notes.

According to him, Ukraine should take into account the situation was similar in Estonia, where the Patriarchate of Constantinople recognized the dual jurisdiction in the country (part of the Churches belonged to the Constantinople Patriarchate, and some - to Moscow), and then the Moscow Patriarch broke off communion with Constantinople. Estonia, as the religious scholar said, is a very small state, compared to Ukraine.

Babynsky believes that if Constantinople still goes on recognizing autocephaly in Ukraine, the Moscow Patriarchate’s response will be tough.

It is too early to speak about the outcome of the affair. “These dialogues have been ongoing since the early 2000s and we have often seen how Moscow can block all the developments and progress” said the religious analyst.

President of the Ukrainian Association for Religious Freedom, MP of Ukraine Viktor Yelensky commented to Obozrevatel on the situation regarding the One Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the fate of the UOC-MP.

"The UOC can join if it would like to, and if not - it will not join. If it does not join, Ukraine will have two jurisdictions, two canonical churches: one will be autocephalous, and another one under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. In principle, there should be one church in the territory of one country, but in the situation where the Moscow Patriarchate is unwilling to solve the problem of millions of Ukrainians, holds them behind the fence, the Ecumenical Patriarch shall interfere in this situation and provide autocephaly to one side,” Viktor Yelensky notes.