Πέμπτη 8 Αυγούστου 2019

REPRESENTATIVES OF OCU, CONSTANTINOPLE, AND VICARIATE OF FORMER UOC-KP IN USA, CANADA DECIDE ON VICARIATE'S STATUS

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On July 30, 2019, an official meeting of Metropolitan Emmanuel, representative of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Yevstratiy, representative of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and members of the former Vicariate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate in the USA and Canada – Fr. Victor Polarnyy, Fr. Oleksandr Dvinyatin, Fr. Roman Zagurski, Viktor Rud, Ivan Yaresko and Peter Palukh was held in Newark, New Jersey, Religion in Ukraine reports citing a Facebook account of Ivan Yaresko.

The parties discussed mutual relations of the Vicariate with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, jurisdictional affiliation of the Vicariate and further cooperation.
Metropolitan Emmanuel spoke to those present with a full understanding of the Church situation in Ukraine, America, Canada, stressing that the children cannot be separated from their own Mother Church, and it is necessary to find common ways that would satisfy all those interested to solve the complicated matter.
Ivan Yaresko stressed in his speech that the main goal of believers who were part of the Vicariate until December 15, 2018 (the day of liquidation of the UOC-KP and the Unification Council of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine) is to obtain an official document from His Beatitude Epifaniy, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine of the OCU, that the Vicariate of the UOC-KP in the USA and Canada remains an integral part of the OCU.
On the part of Metropolitan Emmanuel, there were no opposing statements, he only noted that the situation requires further cooperation, patience and -- with the passage of time -- this difficult matter will be resolved for the benefit of all.
The participants of the meeting coordinated several important activities to be completed by the next meeting, with the participation of representatives of all the parishes that make part of the Vicariate scheduled for the end of September this year, namely: Metropolitan Emmanuel will inform all concerned on his side about the meeting on July 30, Archbishop Yevstratiy will report to Metropolitan Epifaniy, and the Secretary of the Vicariate will provide written notice to all rectors and presidents of the communities in the composition of the Vicariate.
"The conference was held in a good mood, in the ambiance of mutual understanding, respect and Christian love. All those present had the opportunity to express their visions which were similar one hundred percent. The conference ended with a common meal for all those present with a hope of the positive attainment of the common goal," Ivan Yaresko, underscored.