UOC Chancellor explains to Serbian media why union with OCU is impossible

Metropolitan Anthony. Photo: Metropolitan Anthony’s Facebook

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, gave an extensive interview to the Serbian portal “Život Crkve” (“Life of the Church”), in which he answered questions about the situation of the UOC, violent seizures of churches, and the possibility of unification with the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”.

Responding to a question about how realistic a scenario of unification between the UOC and the OCU might be – a scenario discussed in Greek media – Metropolitan Anthony emphasized that this is impossible for canonical reasons.

“From the standpoint of the Orthodox Church’s canon law, the ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine’ arose outside the canonical order, without lawful apostolic succession, and from schismatic structures that had previously been condemned,” the metropolitan explained.

He recalled that prior to 2018, the UOC–KP and the UAOC, which later united into the OCU, were regarded by all Local Orthodox Churches – including the Patriarchate of Constantinople – as schismatic communities. “What was carried out was legalization, not the healing of the schism,” the Chancellor stated.

Metropolitan Anthony also said that the UOC has received no signals from the Phanar condemning church seizures and violence against believers. “Our faithful experience this silence as extraordinarily painful,” he noted.

The metropolitan stressed that genuine unity is possible only on canonical foundations – through a return to canonical communion and recognition of the UOC as the only canonical Church in Ukraine.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that claims about “voluntary transfers” of churches to the OCU are false.

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