Local Council: UOC to open new parishes abroad

On May 27, 2022, at the Local Council of the UOC, a decision was made to organize parishes of the UOC abroad.

“Recently, a new pastoral challenge has been especially acute for our Church. During the three months of the warfare, more than six million citizens of Ukraine were forced to go abroad. Mostly, these are Ukrainians from the southern, eastern and central regions of Ukraine. A significant part of them are faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the resolution stressed.

The document noted that believers from different countries have been turning to the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC with a request to open Ukrainian Orthodox parishes.

“Obviously, many of our compatriots will return to their homeland, but many will remain for permanent residence abroad. In this regard, the Council expresses its deep conviction that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cannot leave its faithful without spiritual care; She must stand by their side in their trials and organize church communities in the Diaspora. It is necessary to further develop the mission abroad among Orthodox Ukrainians in order to preserve their faith, culture, language and Orthodox identity,” the resolution says.

As the UOJ wrote, the Council of the UOC adopted additions and amendments to the Statute on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, testifying to the full self-governance and independence of the UOC.

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