In search of unity and autocephaly: Ukraine's Orthodox Churches1

Abstract

The Orthodox community in Ukraine is bitterly divided amongst three churches, two of which are supportive of autocephaly but divided by personal factors. Over six years into independence the largest Orthodox church in Ukraine remains subordinated to the Moscow Patriarchate as an autonomous church. Attempts at creating a 'state church' during the Leonid Kravchuk era failed and served only further to divide the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine. Although his successor, President Leonid Kuchma, radically changed religious policies and halted any government support for a national church he has accepted that the state has a role to play in regulating these questions during Ukraine's postSoviet transition. Although both Kravchuk and Kuchma back a united Orthodox Church there is little understanding as to how to attain this objective. The granting of autocephaly by Constantinople to a united Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as in Estonia in 1995, would lead to dangerous rifts between Kyiv/Moscow and Moscow/ Constantinople. Orthodoxy in Ukraine on the Eve of Independence The Russian Orthodox Church went into decline and suffered many defections during the late 1980s, in particular in western Ukraine. Nevertheless, it still remained the largest church in Ukraine when Ukraine became an independent state and has continued to hold this dominant position. Two thirds of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Brezhnev era were located in Ukraine. Of these, half were in western Ukraine.2 During the last two remaining years of the former Soviet Union the Russian Orthodox Church had been forced to allow some semblance of 'autonomy' to counter the growth of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAPTs). The 'autonomous' branch of the Russian Orthodox Church was renamed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPTs) in October 1990 and continued to be led by Metropolitan Filaret. Only the head of the autonomous UPTs, elected by the Ukrainian Sobor of the clergy and laity, needed confirmation by the Moscow Patriarchate. All other activities became the sole responsibility of the UPTs. The title of the head of the UPTs was changed to 'His Beautitude', 'an address reserved for heads of autocephalous churches'.3 The majority of former Catholic parishes which opted to remain Orthodox in Galicia initially joined the UAPTs during 1989-91 when it was vigorously portrayed