Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church speaks in support of UOC

Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw and All Poland

During the meeting, the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church considered the letter of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, which described the position of the canonical Church to the Single Local Church, reports the Greek agency Romfea referring to its sources in the Polish Orthodox Church.

"As for the letter of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, who informs us of the current status of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, we express a clear position of the Polish Autocephalous Church, namely, that the ecclesiastic life of the canonical Orthodox Church should be based on the principles of dogmatiс theology and the holy canons of the Orthodox Church," reads the decision of the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church. "The violation of this principle brings chaos to the life of the Church. In Ukraine, there are certain schismatic groups that must first repent and return to the canonical Church. Only then can we discuss the issue of granting autocephaly."

The hierarchs of the Polish Orthodox Church emphasize: "The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Polish Orthodox Church professes, above all, the observance of the canonical order in the life of the Church. The Mother-Church can bestow autocephaly in accordance with the opinion of the Local Orthodox Churches and only after approval by all Primates of the Local Churches."

"In dogmatic-canonical questions one cannot be guided by political conjuncture," resumed the Synod.

On April 19, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the church initiative of President Poroshenko to create the Single Local Orthodox Church in the country.

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