A new version of the Kyiv Patriarchate established in Germany
UOC-KP in Europe. Photo: Facebook of the UOC-KP in Europe
On October 12-13, 2024, a conference and Founding Assembly took place in Cologne, where the decision was made to create a new version of the UOC-KP in Europe, as reported on the Facebook page of the new UOC-KP.
At the assembly of the new version of the Kyiv Patriarchate, it was announced that the head of the UOC-KP, Filaret, has been in retirement since 2021, with a ban on church-administrative activities. According to those who spoke at the event, this influenced the "final loss of legal and canonical legitimacy of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Ukraine after the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine." It is stated that the new structure was created as an "independent church for Ukrainians abroad who can no longer receive spiritual support from Kyiv."
The assembly unanimously decided to establish a full church hierarchy for Ukrainians in Europe, electing "Archimandrite" Volodymyr Chaika as the head of the UOC-KP in Germany and Europe. On October 13, 2024, he was made a "bishop" in Cologne. It was also decided to ordain new "bishops": Leonid (France), Jean-Ignace (Belgium, Luxembourg), and professor Oleksandr Lonner as a vicar bishop.
The conference also emphasized that the UOC-KP in Europe would maintain ties with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, despite autonomous governance. In liturgies, the new structure will commemorate Filaret Denysenko.
As reported by the UOJ earlier, the head of the UOC-KP previously stated that those he had trained had betrayed him and "spat in his face".
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