The National Bank of Ukraine has issued (22nd July) their latest
large-size silver Proof coin to mark the ultimate process for the
autonomy of the country’s Orthodox church, which was finalised on the
5th January 2019.
On the 11th October 2018, the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
announced that it would proceed to the granting of independence to the
Church of Ukraine, making it independent from the Russian Orthodox
Church. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople itself is one of
the 14-16 autocephalous churches that together comprise the Eastern
Orthodox Church. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople heads it,
currently Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople.
The event, which marked the millennial path of the Ukrainian church
from creation to eventual independence, was dedicated to the donation of
the Tomos (or edict) to the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of
Ukraine. The Tomos, which was approved by the Bishops’ Synod of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate, officially approves the canonical autocephalous
status of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as one of 15 resident Orthodox
churches.
Hover to zoom.
The coins are produced at the Ukrainian Mint on behalf of the
National Bank and are designed by Volodymyr Taran, Alexander Kharuk, and
Sergey Haruk. The obverse of the coins depicts both the Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew (left), who passes the scroll (Tomos) to the
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphanius (right). The inscription
15-ТА ЦЕРКВА У БЛАГОСЛОВЕННОМУ ХОРІ АВТОКЕФАЛЬНИХ ЦЕРКОВ (“15th church in the blessed choir of Autocephal Churches”) is seen above the primary design. Below, is the inscription СВЯТІША ЦЕРКВА УКРАЇНИ (“the Holy Church of Ukraine”) with the date of completion, 06.01.2019.
The reverse side depicts the small state emblem of Ukraine placed towards the lower left with a semi-circular inscription УКРАЇНА, the year of issue of the coin, 2019, and the written denomination ПЯТДЕДЯЯ ГРИВЕНЬ
(“50 hriven”). In the centre is a stylised cruciform composition,
topped by a gilded seal of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, which
is accompanied with gilded medallions depicting Cathedrals of the other
14 independent Orthodox churches in the world.
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Maximum Mintage
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1,000
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Officially issued from the 22nd July, the Proof-quality coins are
encapsulated and presented in a custom case accommodating the large
half-kilo size and are accompanied by a numbered certificate of
authenticity. For additional information about this coin and other coins
issued by the National Bank of Ukraine, please visit their website.
Presently, the National Bank does not sell directly to collectors overseas. Collectors in Ukraine may visit the retail department of the National Bank of Ukraine.