Liza, tell me how the Kyivan Patriarchate is not what you are looking for? Because they havent recieved cannonical recognition yet? It will happen. Meanwhile the UOC in the US is under the omophoron of the EP. Is the Romanian Church? Is the Serbian? The Russian? No they have their own patriarachats and patriarch. Yes his holiness Patriarch Filaret was in the Russian church til the eraly 90s. Guess what so where ALL Ukrainian clergy as there was no Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine til 1990. So is the logic it better to be under the Greeks until the greek recognize the UOC-KP cannonically then UOCUSa would leave the EP and Join the UOCKP? The UOCUSA bishops are listed as bishops of ancient Greek areas ie Ierepolis. I have no problem with the EP as it is the mother church but I want what you want and we have it...just not the recognition , yet.... When his Holiness Mystyslav was alive and in charge of the UOCUSA we didnt have cannonical recognition either. Does that mean you would have prefered to been under the Greeks then as well?
Well...where to begin....
Honestly, I am not looking for an argument....and my heart breaks for all the Ukrainians in Ukraine....because of the whole hierarchical chaos. What's a Ukrainian in Ukraine to do? Does he go to the Ukrainian Church run by the MP....well, that makes him a bad Ukrainian, doesn't it? However, the sacraments would be valid, as it is a canonical church. Does he attend the KP....where he can be a proud Ukrainian and uphold his national pride...and yet...what of Orthodoxy?
It's a horrible, horrible situation! This is only the devil's work trying to destroy such a God-fearing and Faithful people. There's no questions about it. But, we WILL persevere...and Christ WILL win.
In the meantime, however, His sheep are misled, and they are running astray....confused as to which shepherd to follow.
How come you can support P. Filaret so openly and lovingly?
Forget the fact that he was under the Russian Church in the 90's. That doesn't really matter. What DOES matter was his suppression of an independent Ukraine and Ukrainian Church. How convenient that he changed his mind...and became a proud Ukrainian when Russian doors were closed to him. No?
How is it that a defrocked priest....and an excommunicated man....who is not even allowed to take Holy Communion in an Orthodox Church....has appointed himself as a leader? How can he be a patriarch?
What insolence and pride on his part?
Honestly, with the whole mess of 3 separate churches vying for power in Ukraine...do you think any are truly concerned about the souls of their followers? I think not. If they were, they would work together for an amicable arrangement. Do you think Moscow is truly concerned for the Ukrainian souls or is it that they want jurisdiction and power of the Ukrainian state. Be honest.
I will repeat myself....all three need to go away....and we need to start from scratch.
May God preserve Ukraine and save Ukrainians and the rest of us from the deceptions of the devil, and may He construct a strong, unified, canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church....for it will only happen through His hands.
As for today...I will happily remain "under the EP"...for I choose God before I choose Ukraine....otherwise, what's the point of fighting for a Ukrainian Church...if you don't choose God first? It's a Church not a social club.
Slava Icycy Christu!
Слава Ісусу Христу!
Glory to Jesus Christ!