Greek theologian explains why DESS’s report on UOC is misleading

Greek theologian and canonist Father Anastasios Gotsopoulos. Photo: UOJ

In his analysis of the State Ethnopolitics Service’s (DESS) report on the links between the UOC and the Moscow Patriarchate, Greek theologian, canonist, and priest Anastasios Gotsopoulos stated that many of the report’s arguments are inaccurate. Gotsopoulos's article was originally published on the Greek branch of the UOJ's website and translated for the main resource.

The priest highlighted that the UOC Synod, "without the participation of a representative from the Moscow Patriarchate (here and hereafter the author's emphasis – Ed.), elects its bishops (right of ordination – jus ordinandi), including its Primate (historically the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv) (Article III,9), and certainly has the right of judgement over the above-mentioned (right of judgment – jus jurandi) (Article III,8)."

He emphasized that the UOC Council “independently adopts the Statute and makes amendments and additions to it (Article II,7)! Its decisions do not require Moscow's approval, nor does Moscow have the right to veto any decision of the Council of Bishops of Ukraine.”

"By its Synodal decision of 27.05.2022, the Church amended its Statute and clearly reaffirmed that it is entirely independent in its governance from the Moscow Patriarchate. The decisions of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Church were communicated to the relevant Ukrainian authorities in the letter No. 464/1.6.2022 from its Primate, Metropolitan Onufriy. Additionally, with his official letter No. 838/28.9.2022, he provided clarifications on certain provisions of the UOC Statute, as amended by the Synodal decision of 27.05.2022," wrote the Greek priest.

In his view, DESS experts acted under government directives to render the UOC illegal.

Father Anastasios specifically noted that the experts, unable to find suitable evidence in the UOC's Statute, resorted to analyzing the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).

"Frequently in their conclusions, the Expert Group criticises the Ukrainian Church for decisions made by the Holy Synod of the Russian Church, in which no Ukrainian bishop has participated since 22 May 2022, not even the Metropolitan of Kyiv, and from which it has become administratively independent. In other words, the Experts make the attribution of rights and this legal status and existence of the Church of Ukraine dependent on the behaviour of another Church from which it is administratively independent and whose decisions it cannot influence," the theologian pointed out.

He further emphasized: "However, the experts fail to note that, following the decision of 27.05.22 by the Holy Synod of the UOC, the Church is no longer governed by the 'definitions of the Council of Bishops' of Russia."

Father Anastasios also noted that in Section 6.3 of the report, "the experts refer to the provision in the Statute of the Russian Church, which envisages 'the permanent presence of the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the administrative body of the Moscow Patriarchate'. However, they fail to disclose that, following the decision of 27.05.22, the Primate of the Ukrainian Church no longer participates in the Holy Synod of Russia."

"We reiterate that the ROC Synod cannot influence the decisions of the UOC Synod," the theologian stressed, pointing out the report's bias and its "commissioned nature" by the State Ethnopolitics Service.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to the Greek theologian, Zelensky's administration seeks to render the UOC illegal.

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