TIMELINE________________________
History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church…a struggle for survival
Apostle Andrew visits Kyiv and
prophesies that it "will become a great Christian city of golden-domed
churches
957.
Grand Duchess Olha accepts the Orthodox faith
988.
Grand Duke Volodymyr the Great baptizes Kyivan-Rus
(Ukraine) into Orthodoxy. Yaroslav the Wise builds St. Sophia in Kyiv. Kievan
Church flourishes.
The
Kyivan Church is larger than all other patriarchates combined, and operates as
a “de-facto” autocephalous church. Without interference from anyone. It elects
its own Metropolitan without the consent of Constantinople or any other
Patriarch. It takes 700 years or so before the Patriarch of Constantinople to
visit Ukraine.
1054.
The Great Schism begins as the Western Patriarch of
Rome and the Eastern Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicate each other.
1248.
Andrei Bogolubsky of Moscovy kidnaps the Ukrainian
Orthodox Metropolitan in attempt to bring the seat of political and cultural
influence to Moscovy.
1448.
The Russian Orthodox Church declares autocephaly
(independence).
1589.
The Russian Orthodox Churche's autocephaly is finally
recognized by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
1596.
Union of Brest takes place, joining the Western
Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Rome.
1626.
Under subjugation by the Poles, the struggle for the
survival of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues. The Patriarch of Jerusalem
consecrates a new Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchy and a period of growth for the
Church in Ukraine begins.
1687.
Over strong opposition
and protest from Ukrainian clergy and laity, the Patriarch of Constantinople
allies himself with Muscovy which leads to hundreds of years of subjugation of
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Moscow.
1700.
In the 1700's independent freedoms for Ukrainians are
abolished. Disrespectful title of "Little Russia" begins. Schools are
abolished, Ukrainian language banned. The Cossack Sich is totally destroyed by
Catherine II. A long period of domination and subjugation begins.
1918.
Ukraine declares its independence.
1918.
As nationalistic feelings intensify in Ukraine, the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church forms in the United States with the founding tenet
that it will "join with Kyiv" once church is free and independent.
1919.
Ukrainian Orthodox declares autocephaly (independence).
1921.
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church begins its
rebirth. The Kyiv Sobor elects Vasyl Lypkivsky as Metropolitan. This great man
inspired a nation to stand up and fight for the rights to restore the
independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. New priests and hierarchy are
consecrated. This is commonly called the "1st. wave"
hierarchy.
1922.
Sobor of Lypkivsky's Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous
Church (UAOC) meets in Kyiv. The Sobor agrees to grant the petition of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States to rejoin the Kyivan UAOC
church. In answer to the American's Church request for a bishop, Ioan
Teodorovich is elected by the Sobor to head the UAOC's US diocese.
1923.
In the 1920’s in the United States, many Ukrainian
Catholics convert to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church due to bishop tyranny and
their attempt to take over parish assets. At the same time a reawakening of
Ukrainian nationalism is fueled by the events taking place in Ukraine.
1924.
Ioan Teodorovich arrives in the US to head the American
Church. Serves first liturgy at Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church –
Newark (now Maplewood). They had 11 parishes and 11 priests. Soon after he becomes head of the Canadian
Church as well.
1925.
Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Passaic - now
Clifton) votes to be organized as part of Lypkivsky's American diocese of the
UAOC Church.
1930.
In the 1930's the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church is
unjustly put on trial for "political crimes" against the State. There
are massive arrests and executions of clergy and lay people. Churches are
destroyed. Farmers, writers and other intelligentsia suffer similar fates. As
Ukrainian farmers and peasantry continues to protest collectivization, Stalin
continues his efforts to obliterate the Ukrainian nation. An artificial famine
in Ukraine kills an estimated 7-10 million people.
Bolshevism brings reign of terror to Ukraine. The
Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous Church is abolished. Lypkivsky is forced into
a labor camp from which he never returns. He becomes a martyr for the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church.
1933. A
group of former Catholics, upset over the Latin-rite’s split and harsh
treatment of the eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholics, organize under the name
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (UOC of A). Fr. Joseph Zuk becomes its
bishop.
1936.
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church all but
disappears in Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church, on the other hand, agrees
to work with the Soviet State and is granted sanctions to operate. The Russian
Orthodox Church takes over property and the administration of the remaining
state - sanctioned churches in Ukraine.
1938.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (UOCA) joins
the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate under the helm of Bishop
Shpilka.
1940.
In the 1940's the Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous
Church experiences another rebirth as the Soviets concentrate on their struggle
with Nazi Germany. New clergy and hierarchy are consecrated. Stefan Skrypnyk (Patriarch
Mstyslav) is consecrated. This is known as the 2nd wave of UAOC
hierarchy. Soviet pressure quickly re-asserts itself and clergy and church
organizers are exiled or killed.
1950.
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine,
although no longer exists in the Soviet Union, continuous to flourish around
the world. The
majority of the parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (UOCA)
unite with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States (UOC-USA), creating the
largest Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the US. Ioan Teodorovich becomes
its Metropolitan, Archbishop Mstyslav, who temporarily served as head of the
UOC of America, leaves the Ecumenical Patriarchate to rejoin the autocephalous
UOC-USA. He becomes the head of the Consistory. Bishop Shpilka and a small
group of parishes refuse to join and remain as a diocese of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate. Bishop Vsevolod belonged to this jurisdiction.
1950.
During the 1950's and 1960's new wave of WW-II
Ukrainian immigrants flood the American shores and begin building new parishes.
1969.
In a continuing effort to unite all Ukrainian Orthodox
into one worldwide Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, Metropolitan Mstyslav takes
over as head of the UOAC in Australia.
1970.
The Russian Orthodox Church in the US formally adopts a
new name…..Orthodox Church of America.
1971.
Metropolitan Teodorovich dies. He is succeeded by
Metropolitan Mstyslav. The Russian Orthodox Church adopts a formal resolution
calling for the destruction of UAOC in the United States and the free world.
1972.
Theodore Buggan, Bishop Constantine, the first American
born bishop of the UOC-USA to be consecrated.
1973.
The Sobor of Bishops from ALL the Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox Churches unite to form one united Ukrainian
Autocephalous Church in the free world. This includes UOC-Canada, UAOC-Europe
and UOC-USA.
1985. After a lengthy postponement, Bishop
Antony, is consecrated as bishop of the UOC-USA.
1987. Bishop Vsevolod of Scopelos becomes the head
of the small Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (UOCA) at the death of Bishop Kuschak. This was the handful of parishes that did not
go along with the merger of the UOC-USA and the UOCA in 1950, preferring
to stay under foreign rule. During the
elevation to bishop by Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Church in
America, Bishop
Vsevolod vows to follow the Patriarch's mandate and bring all Ukrainian
Orthodox under the Ecumenical Patriarchate's authority!
1990.
The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of
Canada come under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople’s jurisdiction,
generating criticism from hierarchs and clergy of the UOC-USA. Metropolitan
Mstyslav of the UOC-USA is furious that the Canadians betrayed their Ukrainian
Church.
1991.
The
UAOC is resurrected in Ukraine at the fall of the Soviet Union. Metropolitan
Mstyslav of UOC-USA, realizing his life-long dream of uniting all Ukrainians
into one Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church, is elevated to Patriarch of
one worldwide Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The hierarchs of UOC-Canada,
under orders from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, do not participate in
Metropolitan Mstyslav's elevation to Patriarch.
The first worldwide Holy Synod of Bishops of the UAOC from the Diaspora and Ukraine is convened in Kyiv and announces the formation of one, worldwide UAOC. Bishop Antony and Constantine participate.
1993.
Patriarch Mstyslav dies
1994.
Secret Agreement of the UOC-USA hierarchs is concluded
with The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
1995.
On March 12,
the hierarchy of UOC-USA, Metropolitan Constantine, Archbishop Antony,
Archbishop Paisij (deceased) and the hierarch of the UAOC-Europe are elected
by the Holy Synod of Bishops as bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and
subordinate themselves under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
1995.
On July 11,
Patriarch Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch writes to Patriarch Alexij of
Moscow in the infamous Protocol 937 reassuring him that he has "taken care
of the Ukrainian diaspora question" and that the UOC-USA have agreed not
to seek autocephaly for the Ukrainian Church.
Sobor of the UOC-USA is convened in October. The “Deal with
Constantinople” is not even on the agenda and the proposed resolution of
acceptance debated and drafted only in a limited Committee discussion.
Hierarchs and leaders promise that, “everything remains the same.”
1996.
Bishop Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of
America - Ecumenical Patriarchate fulfills the mandate of the Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew, when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (UOCA) and
the UOC-USA (Bound Brook) merge.
1997.
Metropolitan
Constantine consecrates Bishop Vsevolod of Scopelos to the rank of Archbishop,
and the Sobor elevates Bishop Vsevolod to the rank of Archbishop.
1999. A series of litigations brought by
the UOC-USA, Archbishop Antony and/or their representatives are instituted
against the parishes of Holy Ascension, Clifton, NJ and St. Michael’s,
Uniondale, NY. At Uniondale police enter the church to prevent the parish
priest from serving liturgy.
2000. Another lawsuit is instituted
against those who dare oppose the “Deal with Constantinople” at St. Mary’s
Parish , Rochester, NY. The clampdown against opposition continues and a UAOC
parish of Adelaide, Australia finds itself in civil court.
In April 2000, Patriarch Bartholomew FINALLY elevates Bishop Vsevolod of Scopelos to the rank of Archbishop, demonstrating that the first elevation by the UOC-USA was a meaningless sham.