Constantinople recognizes UOC KP and UAOC as canonical

Head of the UAOC Macariy and Head of the Kiev Patriarchate Filaret

On October 11, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople decided “to accept and review the petitions of appeal of Filaret Denisenko, Makariy Maletych and their followers, who found themselves in schism not for dogmatic reasons, in accordance with the canonical prerogatives of the Patriarch of Constantinople to receive such petitions by hierarchs and other clergy from all of the Autocephalous Churches. Thus, the above-mentioned have been canonically reinstated to their hierarchical or priestly rank, and their faithful have been restored to communion with the Church,” as reported on the official site of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The act of the Patriarch of Constantinople contradicts the decision taken in the 1990s to excommunicate the head of the UOC KP Filaret. The anathema was then supported by the Primates of all the Local Churches, including the Patriarch of Constantinople.

In October 2015, the heads of the UOC KP and the UAOC failed to unite their Churches.

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