Filaret defrocks the "bishop" who founded the new version of UOC-KP

Filaret Denysenko. Photo: afp.com

On October 19, 2024, the "Synod" of the UOC-KP decided to defrock "Archpriest" Volodymyr Chaika for "gross violation of canonical rules and church statutes," according to the press service of the religious structure.

The basis for this decision was his actions in creating a new church structure in Europe without the permission of the UOC-KP.

It is reported that "Protopriest" Volodymyr Chaika was dismissed from his position as Dean of the European Deanery by the head of the UOC-KP, Filaret, on March 25, 2024. Despite this, he organized an illegitimate conference in Cologne on October 12-13, 2024, where he unilaterally received "episcopal ordination," violating canonical order. The "Synod" noted that Chaika, being a married priest, received "illegal ordinations" from individuals who did not possess canonical authority, describing this as an attempt to fulfill his own ambitions.

Filaret decreed to strip Chaika of his clerical status for "gross violation of priestly vows, disobedience to the Patriarch and the Holy Synod, and a deliberate deviation into schism," and to exclude him from the UOC-KP. The "Synod" also emphasized that the structure created by Chaika, calling itself the "Kyiv Patriarchate in Europe," has no relation to the UOC-KP and is considered schismatic.

The "Synod" called upon Volodymyr Chaika to repent for his transgressions against the UOC-KP.

As previously reported by the UOJ, a new version of the Kyiv Patriarchate was created in Germany.

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