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.