Back to Articles

Back to Front Page

INTERESTING AND REVELING BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

A response to Dr. A. Lysyj's Report of January 4, 1997 by Fr. Frank Estocin, Metropolitan Council Member, Consistory Secretary UOC-USA (dated June 11/24th, 1997 St. Bartholomew)

Quote…

"Unless Orthodox Canonical discipline has suddenly been altered by Ecumenical Orthodoxy, there are certain realities which cannot be avoided, certain boundaries which cannot be transgressed. They are, that in the present order which we embraced as of March 12, 1995:

    1. Neither the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople or any other recognized Orthodox patriarch, can or will intrude into the Canonical and world recognized Kyivan Metropolia, (Moscow Patriarchate) without being invited, and for a serious reason, by the primate of said Metropolia.
    2. The only recognized Orthodox ecclesiastical body in Ukraine is the Orthodox Church, Kyivan Metropolia shepherded by Metropolitan Volodymyr Sabodan…His All Holiness (Patriarch Bartholomew) and world Orthodoxy will only deal with this ecclesiastical reality.
    3. I find it difficult to understand why we, who are Americans, and that we most certainly are, seem to find it necessary to take sides in a turf battle, to assist in building a kingdom, a seemingly political kingdom, a state recognized ecclesiastical body within God's Kingdom - the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which does not have its genesis in 1921.
    4. I am convinced in conscience that all of us should most certainly decide where we really want to belong …………………
    5. …………..
    6. We who see ourselves as mature members of Christ Church went to the Ecumenical Patriarchate voluntarily; No one compelled us. As of March 12, 1995 we voluntarily became bishops and priests of the Ecumenical Throne, subject to its discipline and order. Putting it bluntly, the ship sails with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. If that seems not to fit the agenda of some, then those who feel bound in conscience should extricate themselves from Constantinople and seek spiritual and administrative solace under the omoforion of one of the three patriarchates in Ukraine.

End Quote

Back to Articles

Back to Front Page