Kiev-Pechersk Laura. This orthodox monastery was founded in 1051 by monks Antoniy and Feodosiy in caves close to Kyiv. In 11th century the monastery became a centre of expansion and consolidation of Christianity and chronicle writing in Kyiv Rus.

Kiev, Ukraine—A document regarding start of unification of the Ukrainian Orthodox church of the Kievan patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church (UAPTs) was signed on Friday [3 June] by priests of the churches in Ternopol.

As reported to the news agency “Novosti-Ukraina” by the head of the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox church, Fr Evstraty, “this action flows directly from decisions made by the Holy Synod and Supreme Ecclesiastical Council of the Kievan patriarchate [UPTsKP] in February of this year.” At that time, according to the priest, appeals were adopted to the episcopate, clergy, and believers of the Orthodox church of the Moscow patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous church [UAPTs] calling for actions for unification on all levels.

“It can be said that this also was one of the steps taken in the direction of unification on the part of clergy,” Fr Evstraty noted.

He recalled that back in 2000 agreements were signed at the episcopal level between UPTsKP and UAPTs regarding the necessity of mutual understanding and unification. “But then three forces intervened and representatives of UAPTs halted this process. At that time the process was halted from above, and now we see that it is quite possible to continue it from below,” the priest said.

Fr Evstraty also said that “a united church structure does not exist in the autocephalous church; there are only separate portions of UAPTs which exist in very strange and ill-defined relations. Many do not recognize the primate, Metropolitan Mefody. This intensified after he praised the candidacy of Viktor Yanukovich during the election campaign,” the head of the press service of UPTs said. “In such a situation priests also have sought a way out of such abnormal circumstances and have tried to resolve the problem of the division of Orthodox believers,” Fr Evstraty noted.

He said, “it is difficult to say how long in time the process of unification of the churches will continue. But the creation of a united local church in Ukraine is necessary and unification is not a matter of principle since there are no doctrinal, canonical, and even ideological reasons for the division. Thus the process will not extend for long years,” the priest said.

According to information from the State Committee on Affairs of Religions of Ukraine, at the present time on the territory of Ukraine there operate over 10,500 parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox church of the Moscow patriarchate, 3,500 parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox church of the Kievan patriarchate, 3,400 parishes of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church (Catholics of the Byzantine rite) and about 700 parishes of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church. (tr. by PDS posted 5 June 2005)