Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church: Foundation and Beginnings in Post-War Germany

Abstract

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) met many obstacles regarding its activities from the Soviet and German occupation regimes. Due to persecution and oppression, the hierarchy and clergy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church decided to emigrate. Preserving the canonical episcopate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church began a new stage of existence in emigration, ushering a new period of activity of UAOC. This study is relevant to modern historical science since the study and introduction into the scientific sphere of new archival documents and memoirs of contemporaries gives an opportunity to establish a coherent picture of the activities of the UAOC outside of Ukraine. Postwar Germany was a place of residence for the clergy and the numerous people of Ukraine. In this article, the process of the formation of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Germany after WWII based on archival sources, publications, and memoirs have been presented. A number of parishes and clerics, as well as pastoral, cultural, educational, and publishing activities were established.